By Charles Igbo
The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has been running smoothly since its registration as a political party by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. There has been no crisis. Nobody has threatened to drag it to Court. It has had a clean slate – which was one of the attractions to it by Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, particularly Obi.
Obi has seen troubles and crisis thrown the way of any party he showed more than a passing interest in. It happened in Labour Party which faced unending Court cases and almost got barred from participating in the upcoming 2027 Elections. The Party was suddenly given a breathing space to participate as soon as Obi exited from it for the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
The ADC suddenly erupted in crisis as soon as Obi and other politicians of consequence set their feet and gave it life. Court actions suddenly sprang up from left, right and centre, threatening the Party’s participation in the 2027 election.
Sensing danger, Obi and Kwankwaso quietly quit ADC and found refuge in the NDC. Their entry gave life to the Party. It was like wildfire. While not a few were still celebrating, and singing freedom at last, trouble is suddenly rearing its head.
It began with the sudden allegation that NDC’s National Legal Adviser, Reuben Egwuaba, did not resign from the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, and so has committed the offence of dual registration. That was swiftly debunked by INEC which, in a statement, cleared him of any dual registration.
But another trouble has surfaced, this time from one Umar Ardo, a founding member of a yet-to-be registered political association, All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
In an interview, Ardo has let it be known that ADA will appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court Lokoja which ordered INEC to register the NDC.
ADA was one of the eight pre-qualified associations cleared by INEC in October 2025 for party registrations. The eight of them had uploaded all required information and documentation on INEC’s website.
But on February 5, 2026, INEC announced that “only two” out of the eight “qualified for final assessment and verification of due compliance with the constitution and the Electoral Act”.
NDC, which was not one of the eight was also registered by INEC, following the order of the Federal High Court in Lokoja.
According to INEC: “The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi state, in suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025 between Barr Takori Mohammed Sanni & Ors v. INEC ordered the Commission to register Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party”
“The Commission has decided to comply with the order, and it is being registered as a political party. Certificate of registration will be handed over to the two new political parties in due course.”
But in an interview on Trust TV, Ardo alleged that “INEC deviated from its procedures in the registration of NDC, claiming
that NDC was never part of the 2025 screening process. So, he is now asking INEC to explain why it registered the party through a Court order when it did not apply for official registration.
In another interview with DCL Hausa posted on YouTube Monday, Ardo let it be known that ADA would file an appeal against the Lokoja ruling. His allegation is that the process leading to NDC’s registration “was politically influenced”.
His words: “We are filing an appeal. During the proceedings in Lokoja, the NDC failed to present any supporting evidence they did not submit their Constitution, the Electoral Act, or any documentation compliant with INEC guidelines. Despite this total lack of evidence, the Judge issued a directive for their registration.
“While the jud2ge and I share the same hometown of Jada in Adamawa State, he resided there while the current NDC leader served as Governor. He was subsequently transferred to Lokoja, where the NDC followed him to file this case. We believe this connection influenced the judgment.
“ADA will appeal on the ground of interests.
“We have met every legal requirement and have spent nearly N200 million establishing offices in every state, yet our case has languished for five months without a ruling. In contrast, the NDC’s case was resolved in just 32 days.
“The NDC never submitted a formal application, was not shortlisted, and failed to join the INEC registration portal. Furthermore, they did not submit the required legal documents mandated by INEC guidelines, such as a constitution, a manifesto, or a list of executive members.
“Despite failing to meet any of these requirements or even applying, they claim the court ordered their registration.
“We cannot accept this; it is completely unjust that those of us who followed every rule and met every requirement are treated the same as those who did nothing. This level of corruption is unacceptable.”
Will this appeal by Ardo and ADA fly? And, if it does, what will be the fate of NDC, and by extension, Obi and Kwankwaso?
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