JUST-IN: ADA drags INEC to court, seeks deregistration of NDC over alleged illegal registration

An aggrieved political association, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), alongside its Protem Director of Mobilization, Ahidjo Ibrahim Karlahi, has filed a suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the deregistration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

The plaintiffs are asking the court to compel INEC to withdraw the registration of the NDC, alleging that the party was illegally and fraudulently registered to participate in Nigeria’s electoral process.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1115/2026, ADA and Karlahi alleged that the NDC, led by Senator Seriake Dickson, was registered in violation of constitutional and electoral provisions.

According to the plaintiffs, INEC breached several sections of the 1999 Constitution, including Sections 1, 6, 13, 14, 222 and 251, as well as Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act, in the process that led to the registration of the party.

The suit, filed through Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Bankole Joel Akomolafe, via an originating summons, contends that the NDC did not satisfy the constitutional requirements necessary for registration as a political party.

The plaintiffs further argued that INEC does not possess unlimited powers to register political parties without strict adherence to the provisions of the law.

They are therefore seeking an order of the court nullifying, setting aside and revoking the certificate of registration issued to the NDC.

In addition, ADA and Karlahi are requesting a perpetual injunction restraining INEC from recognising, maintaining or accepting the NDC as a registered political party for the purpose of any election in Nigeria.

They also want the court to restrain the NDC from presenting or describing itself as a registered political party through any medium, including publications and broadcasts.

The suit, filed on June 2, 2026, is supported by a 25-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Karlahi.

While ADA and Ahidjo Ibrahim Karlahi are listed as plaintiffs, INEC and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) are named as defendants.

As of the time of filing this report, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.

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