2027: INEC registered NDC without court order — AAP

2026-02-14 - 04:59

By Luminous Jannamike ABUJA — The African Alliance Party (AAP) on has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of registering the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) without a valid court order, stating that its independent checks found no Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment the commission claimed it relied on. The allegation was contained in a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Sadiq, who said the investigation was conducted at the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State. The statement also referenced the announcement earlier made by INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, regarding NDC’s registration. “Our investigation at the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State showed that there is no certified true copy (CTC) of the purported court judgement in which Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, INEC chairman relied on to register the mysterious Nigeria Democratic Congress as he announced to the nation on 5th February 2026, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja,” the statement said. AAP also alleged that NDC was not among the political associations earlier listed by INEC as applicants for party registration in its official communications before the announcement of its approval. “This judicial abracadabra which INEC brandished in registering NDC which was not listed as one of the political associations that applied to be registered as a political party in all the commission’s official social media platforms as well as in its various press statements as at Thursday, 5th February, 2026 it infamously registered it, is an assault on the nation’s democracy, questions the integrity and credibility of INEC Chairman,” AAP stated. The party further claimed that the later appearance of NDC on the commission’s website suggested attempts to justify the decision after the fact. “The recent attempt to smuggle in NDC on INEC’s website to cover up its recklessness in registering NDC has further exposed the commission’s desperation and culpability, and brought it to global ridicule and disrepute.” AAP said it met all statutory requirements for registration and urged the electoral commission to reconsider its position, warning that it would pursue legal steps if necessary. “INEC has the chance and opportunity to review its position on the registration of the African Alliance Party, and do the right thing,” the stated.