BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Nigeria’s political arena is on edge with a barrage of court cases as the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) and its Protem Director of Organisation, Ahidjo Ibrahim Karlahi, have joined the growing ranks of plaintiff seeking clarity on specific and general legal issues concerning the 2027 elections
The latest legal situation has the ADA and Karlahi filing a dramatic lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the de-registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC),
In the suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1115/2026) filed last week Tuesday and assigned to Justice Mohammed Umar by the Chief Justice of FHC, Justice Tsoho, the plaintiff are alleging that the NDC’s initial registration was unlawful and fraudulent.
The originating summons filed by Karlahi argued that as a political party, NDC has not fulfilled the mandatory constitutional and statutory conditions precedent prescribed under Sections 221-225A of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
Joining both INEC and NDC in the suit as 1st and 2nd defendants respectively, Karlahi further submitted that the NDC was not listed among the prequalified associations for formal application in the 2025 political parties registration exercise, insisting that NDC bypassed every mandatory step in the registration process, and as such, it should not be registered as a political party in the country.
According to him, “The NDC was not listed among the prequalified associations for formal application in the 2025 political parties registration exercise”, adding: “The NDC was not listed among those associations that paid the mandatory N2,000,000.00 administrative fee and received access codes to the INEC’s Application Portal for the 2025 registration exercise;
“The NDC did not access INEC’s dedicated Political Party Registration Portal during the 2025 registration exercise which is the only way to fill the Form EC15A;
“The NDC did not hence fill INEC’s mandatory form EC15A, which is the only valid means of formally applying for registration as a political party; and
“The NDC was not listed among the pre-qualified political associations published by INEC as having applied. These are not mere allegations – they are matters of public record.”
Already many political commentators are describing the case as a fierce battle to dismantle the NDC’s political legitimacy, especially with the ADA chieftain urging the court to declare the continuing validity of the NDC’s registration as unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful, ultra vires, null and void.
Offering further insight on his reasons for instituting the case, Karlahi said: “My suit respectfully prays the Court to in essence: Declare that the Constitution does not permit an entity that never satisfied constitutional conditions for registration to be registered and to continue enjoying the status of a political party.
“Declare the continuing administrative recognition of the NDC by INEC as unconstitutional and unlawful. Set aside the continuing recognition of NDC’s Certificate of Registration issued by INEC. Order INEC to halt its continuing recognition of NDC from its official register of political parties;
“Forbid INEC from continuing to deal with NDC as a political party; restrain the NDC from continuing to parade itself or continuing to participate in any electoral activity as a registered political party”
“This suit is instituted solely by me as a citizen to advance constitutionalism, the rule of law and electoral integrity in our democracy. It is not directed against any individual or group of persons”, Karlahi explained, adding that the suit carries no ulterior political or personal motives,
Maintaining that it is not instituted on behalf of any association or group, including the ADA, he said, “I believe that electoral integrity is the bedrock of constitutional democracy. If the process for registering political parties is compromised, the entire democratic edifice is at risk. This suit is my contribution to safeguarding that process.
“I call on all Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, or religion – to understand, support and be patient as this matter proceeds through the judicial process. The courts remain the last refuge of the common man and the ultimate guardian of our Constitution. I have faith in the judiciary and trust that justice will be done according to law.
“I urge the media, civil society and the general public to follow this case with the seriousness it deserves, not as a partisan squabble, but as a test of whether our constitutional order will be respected or eroded.”
However, the sudden emergence of this fresh suit seems ready to throw a spanner in the works for NDC after its national leader and founder, Senator Seriake Dickson, had declared that there is no pending litigation or appeal challenging the party’s registration.
Speaking during the NDC’s maiden national convention held at the Angeles Event Centre and Mall, Abuja, Dickson, a former Governor of Bayelsa State had assured stakeholders and members that the Party is legally recognised and united ahead of the 2027 general elections.
