ADA Yet to Meet Requirements for Party Registration — INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), a political group linked to several high-profile politicians, has yet to fulfil the legal requirements for registration as a political party.
Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Sam Olumekun, clarified that while the commission had received numerous letters of intent from different groups, none had met the threshold for formal consideration.
“The truth is that we have many letters of intent presently, but none of them qualifies as an application yet,” Olumekun stated. “Associations must first satisfy the legal criteria before submitting an application for registration.”
The clarification follows media reports about the ADA’s efforts to secure registration, with particular attention drawn to an application dated June 19, addressed to the INEC Chairman. Observers also noted a procedural blunder in the letter, where the proponents omitted the word “Electoral” from INEC’s full name, instead addressing the letter to the “Independent National Commission.”
The application was signed by Akin Ricketts, ADA’s protem National Chairman, and Abdullahi Musa Elayo, protem National Secretary.
Among political heavyweights linked to the ADA initiative are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President David Mark, and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi. However, several of these individuals have not publicly confirmed involvement.
INEC maintained that there is “no shortcut” to political party registration, stressing that any association seeking recognition must comply strictly with the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act and INEC’s internal guidelines.
Meanwhile, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu is scheduled to meet with leaders of Nigeria’s 19 registered political parties on Thursday at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting, part of ongoing consultative engagements, will also include the media, civil society organisations, and security agencies. The session is jointly coordinated by Prof. Yakubu and National Security Adviser (NSA) Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, co-chairmen of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
A senior INEC official hinted that Prof. Yakubu is expected to address the ADA application and other political developments during Thursday’s meeting.
The political atmosphere continues to heat up as Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections, with the formation of new alliances and parties closely monitored by political observers.
