BARELY hours after former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi and ex-Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, formally joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the party has been dragged into fresh controversy over alleged irregularities surrounding its registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The latest development followed threats by a leading promoter of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Umar Ardo, who has challenged the registration of the NDC in court, alleging that the party failed to comply with constitutional and procedural requirements before it was granted recognition.
The controversy comes shortly after News Point Nigeria reported that Obi and Kwankwaso officially dumped the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and joined the NDC, where they were issued membership cards at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Sunday.
ADA is among the 171 political associations that applied to INEC for registration as political parties.
However, in February 2026, INEC disclosed that only two associations were eventually registered as political parties.
Speaking during the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja in February, INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, said the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) emerged as the only association independently registered by the commission from the 171 applications received.
He added that the NDC was registered following a court order.
According to Amupitan, the associations were assessed in line with Sections 222 and 223 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Sections 75 and 79(1), (2) and (4) of the Electoral Act 2022, as well as Clause 2 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022.
However, during an appearance on Trust TV recently, Ardo accused INEC of deviating from laid-down procedures by registering a party that allegedly failed to undergo the official screening process.
Reacting to the allegations then, the NDC, through its National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu, dismissed Ardo’s claims as mischievous and misleading.
In an interview today with DCL Hausa, Ardo insisted that the registration of the NDC was riddled with irregularities and vowed to pursue the legal action against the process to the end.
“The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) obtained registration without properly applying. It did not meet the requirements set by the law, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or INEC guidelines. It is clearly irregular. If there is any other party that failed to meet the requirements but was registered, I will challenge it in court.
“As for ADA, we formally applied for registration with INEC. We met all the stipulated requirements and paid the necessary fees. On September 10, 2025, INEC wrote to us confirming that we had met the conditions and qualified for the next stage, which involved presenting our executives, their credentials, and other supporting documents for verification before final registration. We complied fully. However, we were suddenly denied registration, along with 13 other groups. We immediately went to court,” he said.
Ardo further questioned the circumstances surrounding the registration of the NDC.
“In February 2026, INEC announced that it had registered two parties. One, they said, was registered independently by the commission, while the other was registered following a court order. We have no issue with their independent decision. But regarding the party they claimed was registered by court order, the NDC, it is troubling.
“Apart from submitting a letter of intent, the NDC did not file a formal application, was not shortlisted, did not use the INEC registration portal, and did not submit key documents such as its constitution, manifesto, or executive membership list as required by law and guidelines. Yet, the court ordered its registration. We cannot accept that,” he stated.
He added that his group is seeking legal redress and ensure justice is pursued through the courts.
“We are appealing the process. The NDC did not present the required documents before the court, yet judgment was given in its favour. We initially dragged INEC to court and will now proceed on appeal.
“We may not yet be a registered party, but we have a legitimate interest. We followed due process and were denied, while another group that did not comply was registered. Within 32 days of filing its case, the NDC secured judgment. Our own case has been in court for five months without a ruling. This kind of inconsistency brings instability and undermines peace in the country.”
Ardo also alleged that INEC failed to challenge the court judgment that led to the registration of the NDC.
“INEC did not appeal the judgment. Instead, it went ahead to register the NDC and issued it a certificate. Even on INEC’s website, the party’s leadership is listed as having emerged by court order. Yet, at the time of the ruling, no names were submitted. The names were only provided after registration.
“We invested heavily in the process. I personally spent about ₦200 million and we established offices across the country. Yet, we were denied registration,” he said.
He maintained that INEC, the NDC and the entire process leading to the registration of the party must be questioned, insisting that he would pursue an appeal involving both INEC and the NDC.
Asked whether he was being used by the current administration to destabilise the NDC ahead of the 2027 elections, Ardo dismissed the allegation and said he had a history of seeking judicial redress against governments and political authorities.
“I reject that. I believe the NDC’s emergence raises legitimate concerns. I suspect the party may have been engineered by President Tinubu. How can a group that did not follow due process secure registration and court backing without INEC appealing the decision? I have a track record of challenging those in power and I cannot be manipulated.
“The issue is not about timing. The NDC was registered on February 5, 2025 and I challenged it on September 6, 2025. It has nothing to do with the party attracting prominent figures. The concern is that if a party emerges through a process marred by irregularities, it raises questions about the kind of government it can provide.
“This is not about targeting the NDC alone. If any party was registered without meeting legal requirements, I will challenge it. The NDC is being included because it benefited from what we see as a flawed process. Those considering joining the party should be aware of how it was registered,” he added.