Court Order Ignored: ADA Gives INEC 48-Hour Ultimatum Over Delayed Registration Process

The All Democratic Alliance (ADA) has issued a fresh demand to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging the electoral body to immediately provide the access code required for the completion of its political party registration process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party warned that continued delay in complying with a Federal High Court judgment could force it to initiate contempt proceedings against top INEC officials, including the Commission’s Chairman and the Director of the Department of Election and Party Monitoring (EPM).

In a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday, ADA’s Protem National Secretary, Mr Aminu Ahmed, said the association remained one of the eight political groups prequalified by INEC for possible registration as political parties.

According to him, the commission’s failure to obey the court order has prevented the association from uploading critical information required under INEC’s guidelines, including details of party officials, office addresses and membership records.

Ahmed argued that obtaining the access code is the final hurdle standing between ADA and the completion of its registration process.

He maintained that once the commission complies with the court directive, the association would be able to submit all necessary documentation and proceed toward securing its certificate of registration as a recognised political party.

The party expressed frustration over what it described as prolonged non-compliance with a lawful court order, insisting that the delay was undermining the democratic rights of its members and supporters.

“Based on the order of the Federal High Court directing INEC to issue the access code within 72 hours of the judgment, the commission ought to have complied by Aug. 4,” Ahmed stated.

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He alleged that INEC had continued to ignore the judgment for several weeks, describing the situation as a challenge to the rule of law and a setback to the association’s political aspirations.

The ADA leadership warned that if the commission fails to act within the next 48 hours, it would consider legal steps to compel compliance and hold responsible officials accountable for what it termed contempt of court.

The dispute stems from a lawsuit filed by ADA leaders, Chief Akin Rickets and Aminu Ahmed, through their counsel, M.U. Kumalia, against INEC and Dr Umar Ardo over the issuance of the access code linked to the party’s registration process.

In a judgment delivered on June 29, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court ruled that the access code had been wrongly issued to Ardo, who was not recognised as the association’s Protem National Secretary.

The court declared the action illegal, null and void, and subsequently directed INEC to grant the access code to the recognised leadership of the association.

Justice Lifu also ordered the commission to reopen its registration portal for one week, allowing ADA to upload all required documents, including its digital membership register and other statutory requirements needed for political party registration.

As the standoff continues, attention is now focused on whether INEC will comply with the court ruling or face another legal battle from the aspiring political party seeking a place on Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.