A fresh legal battle may be brewing in as Umar Ardo has vowed to challenge the registration and recognition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in court.
Ardo, a key figure behind the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), argues that the party’s registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission did not follow proper procedures.
Speaking during an interview on Trust TV, he made it clear that his planned legal action would not stop at the NDC alone.
According to him, any political party that bypassed established guidelines could also face a similar challenge.
The dispute stems from INEC’s announcement earlier this year that only two out of 171 applicant associations were approved as political parties.
One of them, the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), reportedly met all requirements, while the NDC was registered following a court order.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, had explained that the process was guided by constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act, alongside the commission’s internal regulations.
But Ardo isn’t convinced.
He insists the NDC never went through the full application and screening process required for registration.
“The NDC did not properly apply or meet the legal requirements. Its registration is irregular, and we will challenge it,” he said.
Ardo also claimed that his own group, ADA, completed all necessary steps, including documentation and payments, and had even progressed to the verification stage before being denied approval.
Beyond that, he raised concerns about the court ruling that paved the way for the NDC’s registration, questioning how the party secured judgment without presenting the required documents.
He further pointed to what he described as an uneven legal process, noting that while ADA’s case has dragged on, the NDC’s approval came unusually quickly.
Despite suggestions that his stance may be politically motivated, Ardo dismissed the claims, saying his actions are rooted in principle rather than politics.
“This is about due process. I’ve challenged governments before, and I’ll continue to do so,” he said.
He warned that allowing parties to emerge outside established legal frameworks could weaken public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system, adding that the matter would ultimately be settled in court
