African Alliance Party Demands Proof of Court Order Behind Rival’s Registration
The African Alliance Party (AAP) has formally requested Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to produce the certified true copy of a court ruling it allegedly used to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
The demand follows INEC’s announcement last week that it had registered two new political parties, including the NDC. AAP, which applied for registration but was not among those approved, said it had conducted checks at the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, and found no record of such a judgement.
In a statement, Alh. Abubakar Sadiq, National Publicity Secretary of AAP, described the situation as “judicial abracadabra.” He noted that the NDC was not listed among the associations that applied to INEC for registration in the commission’s official communications up to February 5, 2026. The party accused INEC of an “assault on the nation’s democracy” and questioned the integrity of the commission’s leadership.
AAP further alleged that INEC’s recent attempt to update its website with information about the NDC exposed the commission’s “desperation and culpability.” The party challenged INEC to release the specific court order it claimed authorised the NDC’s registration, asserting that “there is no valid court order to present.”
The statement contended that INEC’s actions demonstrated a bias against AAP and suggested the commission was acting in the interest of “a cabal” rather than the nation. AAP insisted it had met all statutory requirements for registration and argued that the NDC’s swift registration under “questionable circumstances” was unjust.
The party warned that it would pursue the matter to uphold the rule of law and ensure fair play. It called on INEC to immediately register AAP, stating that the commission’s competence and neutrality are critical for rebuilding public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between political aspirants and INEC over the registration process. INEC has not yet commented on AAP’s specific allegations or request for documentation. The commission’s next steps regarding AAP’s application will be closely watched amid broader concerns about transparency in party registration.
