By Emmanuel Oloniruha
The African Alliance Party (AAP) on Friday on 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 AAP National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, made the call in a statement issued in Abuja.
Sadiq described the registration of the NDC by INEC as an “assault on Nigeria’s democracy,” noting that the move raised serious questions about the integrity and credibility of the commission under the leadership of its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan.
He insisted that the NDC was not among the pre-qualified associations seeking registration.
The AAP is one of the eight pre-qualified associations that reportedly completed the upload of the required documents on the commission’s portal.
Sadiq alleged that the association’s investigation revealed that there was no CTC on the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi, which INEC relied on to register the NDC.
He described decision as a “poor script” designed to stall the registration of the AAP.
“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 any provocation, has decided to mislead Nigerians, as it has no reason to register the NDC in place of the AAP,” Sadiq said.
He said that the AAP would pursue what he described as “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 is justice juxtaposed. It shall not stand.”
Sadiq urged the commission 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. All eyes are on the commission to justify the confidence reposed in it by the citizens.
“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, during a quarterly consultative meeting, announced the registration of only two new parties—Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and NDC—bringing the existing 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 an order of a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi in a Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025.
INEC maintained that final determinations were based on rigorous physical verification of claims. (NAN)
