ADA Suffers Setback as Court Dismisses Suit Against INEC Over Party Registration

A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to register the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) as a political party.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite ruled that the case filed by the association’s promoters lacked merit and was not backed by credible evidence.

The suit was instituted by a group led by Umar Ardo against INEC, alongside Chief Akin Ricketts and Aminu Ahmed.

The plaintiffs had asked the court to order INEC to register ADA as a political party and declare the association automatically registered under provisions of the Electoral Act, arguing that the commission failed to act within the stipulated timeframe.

However, the court upheld a preliminary objection raised by the defendants, who argued that the suit was filed using the wrong legal procedure.

Justice Nwite held that the matter involved disputed facts and allegations of fraud, issues that could not be resolved through an originating summons.

According to the judge, the case ought to have been initiated through a writ of summons to allow witnesses to testify and be cross-examined in court.

“Consequently, the second and third defendants’ preliminary objection is upheld, and this suit is hereby struck out,” the judge ruled.

Although the matter was struck out on procedural grounds, Justice Nwite went further to address the substantive claims raised by the plaintiffs.

The court held that the claim that Ricketts defected from ADA to the ADC was not supported with credible evidence.

The plaintiffs had relied mainly on newspaper publications to support their allegation, but the judge ruled that media reports alone could not establish the truth of such claims.

He noted that no independent evidence, such as party membership documents or payment records, was presented to prove Ricketts officially joined the ADC.

The court also agreed with INEC that the plaintiffs failed to comply with key constitutional and electoral requirements needed for party registration.

Justice Nwite pointed out discrepancies in the names of interim national officers submitted by the association and said the inconsistencies were not satisfactorily explained.

He subsequently dismissed the case, ruling that the plaintiffs failed to establish their claims with credible evidence.