ADA Official Asks Court to Declare NDC Registration Unconstitutional

June 8 (MEDIA TODAY) — An acting Director of Organisation of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Ahidjo Karlahi, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking a declaration that the registration and continued recognition of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are unconstitutional and unlawful..

The suit, filed last Tuesday and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1115/2026, has been assigned to Justice Mohammed Umar after allocation by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho.

Karlahi is challenging the legality of the party’s registration process and has named both INEC and the NDC as defendants in the originating summons.

The legal challenge comes amid recent claims by the national leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, that the party is not a newly formed political platform, disclosing that its registration process dates back to 2017.

According to the former Bayelsa governor, the party had secured approval from INEC at the time before the process was halted due to regulatory developments.

He noted that with the resumption of party registration by INEC last year, the NDC leadership revisited and updated its earlier application.

However, in the originating summons filed before the court, Karlahi challenged the legality of the process through which the NDC obtained recognition, naming both INEC and the NDC as defendants in the suit.

The plaintiff argued that the party allegedly failed to satisfy constitutional and statutory conditions required for registration under Sections 221–225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act 2022.

According to him, the NDC was not among the political associations approved by INEC to participate in the 2025 political party registration exercise and allegedly did not complete the required administrative procedures for formal recognition.

In documents supporting the suit, Karlahi listed several alleged irregularities surrounding the party’s registration.

“The NDC was not listed among the prequalified associations for formal application in the 2025 political parties registration exercise. The NDC was not listed among those associations that paid the mandatory N2,000,000 administrative fee and received access codes to INEC’s Application Portal for the 2025 registration exercise.

“The NDC did not access INEC’s dedicated Political Party Registration Portal during the 2025 registration exercise, which is the only means of filling Form EC15A. The NDC did not therefore complete INEC’s mandatory Form EC15A, which is the only valid means of formally applying for registration as a political party.

“The NDC was not listed among the pre-qualified political associations published by INEC as having applied. These are not mere allegations — they are matters of public record,” he stated.

Karlahi is asking the court to declare the registration and continued recognition of the NDC as unconstitutional, unlawful, and invalid. He also sought orders directing INEC to remove the party from its register and discontinue any official dealings with it as a registered political party.

Among the reliefs sought before the court are declarations that the Constitution does not permit the registration of any entity that failed to satisfy constitutional conditions and that INEC’s continued recognition of the party amounts to a violation of the law.

He further requested the court to set aside the party’s certificate of registration and restrain the NDC from presenting itself or participating in any electoral process as a registered political party.

Karlahi insisted that the action was instituted in his personal capacity and not on behalf of ADA or any political organisation.

“This suit is instituted solely by me as a citizen to advance constitutionalism, the rule of law, and electoral integrity in our democracy. It is not directed against any individual or group of persons,” he said.

Describing the case as a matter of public interest rather than political rivalry, Karlahi said the legal challenge was intended to preserve democratic principles and strengthen confidence in the country’s electoral system.

According to him, electoral integrity remains fundamental to constitutional democracy.

“I believe that electoral integrity is the bedrock of constitutional democracy. If the process for registering political parties is compromised, the entire democratic edifice is at risk. This suit is my contribution to safeguarding that process,” he said.

He also called on Nigerians and key stakeholders to monitor proceedings closely, stressing that the matter should be viewed as a test of constitutional compliance rather than a partisan contest.

“The courts remain the last refuge of the common man and the ultimate guardian of our Constitution. I have faith in the judiciary and trust that justice will be done according to law,” Karlahi stated.

He urged the media, civil society organisations, and members of the public to pay close attention to the proceedings, adding that the outcome could have wider implications for the country’s democratic and electoral framework.

As of the time of filing this report, neither INEC nor the NDC had publicly responded to the suit.