AAP drags INEC to court over NDC registration

By Abubakar Yunusa

The African Alliance Party has vowed to challenge the alleged unlawful registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress by the Independent National Electoral Commission, demanding its immediate deregistration.

The party accused INEC of acting with “indiscretion” and registering an association that, according to it, never applied for recognition as a political party.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the National Publicity Secretary of AAP, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, alleged that the NDC was “deceitfully and mischievously” registered on 5 February 2026 in place of AAP.

He insisted that NDC was neither among the 14 pre-qualified associations nor among the eight groups that uploaded documents to INEC’s portal, paid administrative fees and underwent verification by the commission.

Sadiq further stated that NDC was not listed among the two associations reportedly approved for registration in December 2025.

According to him, AAP participated in all stages of the registration process and emerged as the first of the two associations approved under the leadership of INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan.

He described the commission’s action as “justice juxtaposed” and an assault on constitutional governance, warning that it would be resisted in the national interest.

The AAP National Executive Committee, which met in Abuja on Tuesday, resolved to approach the court to challenge what it termed the unlawful registration of NDC.

“The deregistration of NDC is the first step towards sanitising our democratic system,” the statement read.

The party also questioned the capacity, integrity and patriotism of Amupitan, arguing that as a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he ought to uphold transparency and fairness.

AAP warned the INEC chairman against overheating the polity by excluding a qualified association while registering what it called an unqualified group to appease a cabal.

It added that political party registration “is not a Valentine’s gift to be dispensed at pleasure.”

The party urged INEC to “do the needful” by registering AAP, stressing that Nigerians and the international community are watching developments closely.