By Emmanuel Oloniruha
The African Alliance Party (AAP) on Friday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make public the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court judgment it relied upon to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The call was made by the AAP National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, in a statement issued in Abuja.
Sadiq described the registration of the NDC by INEC as an “assault on Nigeria’s democracy”, saying the move raised serious questions about the integrity and credibility of the commission under Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan.
He insisted that the NDC was not among the pre-qualified associations seeking registration.
The AAP is one of eight pre-qualified associations that reportedly completed uploading the required documents on the commission’s portal.
Sadiq alleged that the party’s investigation revealed no CTC exists at the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi, which INEC cited to register the NDC.
He described INEC’s decision as a “poor script” designed to stall the AAP’s registration.
“AAP challenges INEC to release the court order it claimed it received to register NDC. There is no valid court order to present. INEC, without provocation, has decided to mislead Nigerians,” Sadiq said.
He added that the AAP would pursue what he described as a “glaring case of impunity” in the interest of justice, equity, fair play, and sustainable democracy in Nigeria.
“INEC is obliged by law to act in the interest of the nation, not in the interest of a cabal and to uphold democratic values, ideals, ethics, and ethos.
“To short-change a qualified political association for registration in favour of a mysterious association unknown to the commission and citizens shall not stand,” he said.
Sadiq urged INEC to review its position and register the AAP, which he claimed had met all legal requirements.
“INEC’s competence and neutrality are critical in rebuilding trust in the electoral process. Prof. Amupitan’s integrity is at stake.
He should clear all doubts that he is the right man to lead the nation’s electoral management body and conduct free, fair, and transparent elections,” he added.
INEC had on Feb. 5 announced, during a quarterly consultative meeting, the registration of only two new parties; Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and NDC, bringing the total number of political parties in the country to 21.
Amupitan explained that DLA was the sole association to fully comply with the law following physical verification, while NDC was registered in obedience to a Federal High Court order in Lokoja, Kogi (Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025).
The commission maintained that final determinations were based on rigorous physical verification of claims. (NAN)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
