African Alliance Party Alleges Unlawful Exclusion from Nigerian Political Party Registration
The African Alliance Party (AAP) has accused Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of unlawfully excluding it from the list of newly registered political parties, threatening legal action over the matter.
In a statement, AAP claimed it fulfilled all constitutional, statutory, and regulatory requirements for registration but was nonetheless removed from the final list. The party described the action as an “injustice” and a “calculated assault on the nation’s democracy,” demanding immediate registration or preparedness for court proceedings.
The dispute follows INEC’s announced registration process. In September 2025, INEC released a list of 14 pre-qualified associations from 171 applicants, including AAP, and invited their interim leadership for a briefing. The commission then opened an online portal from September 18 to October 18 for document submission.
An October 30 INEC statement reported that by October 19, eight of those 14 associations, AAP included, had completed the required uploads. However, the party now asserts it was ultimately not registered alongside others.
AAP’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, questioned INEC’s integrity and alleged bias. The party highlighted the registration of the “Nigeria Democratic Congress” (NDC), which AAP claims did not participate in the public application process or appear on INEC’s official platforms. “On what criterion was NDC registered?” the statement asked.
The party vowed to challenge what it termed INEC’s “double standard,” “policy somersault,” and “abuse of the legal process” in court. It emphasized that sustainable democracy depends on strict adherence to due process and the rule of law. AAP framed the issue as part of a broader effort by “anti-democratic elements” to compress the political space, reaffirming its trust in the judiciary as the “last hope of aggrieved citizens.”
The standoff underscores ongoing tensions within Nigeria’s electoral framework. While INEC has previously stated its commitment to inclusivity and transparency, AAP’s allegations point to potential disputes over the technical and legal criteria for party registration. The upcoming legal challenge could test the boundaries of INEC’s discretion and set a precedent for how new political groups enter Nigeria’s democratic arena.
