Why I Oppose Registration of NDC by INEC – Umar Ardo
Promoter of the Alliance for Democratic Action (ADA), Umar Ardo, has explained his opposition to the registration of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), insisting that the group failed to comply with due constitutional and electoral procedures.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday, Ardo alleged that the NDC did not follow the proper process required for political party registration as stipulated by law.
He explained that the process begins with the formation of an association, followed by a formal letter of intent to INEC stating the proposed party name, acronym, and logo.
According to him, the NDC submitted a letter of intent to INEC but its request was rejected on the grounds that its logo was similar to those of existing political parties and associations.
Ardo said the law requires any aggrieved association to approach the court within 14 days of such a rejection, but instead, the group allegedly wrote back to INEC asking it to reconsider its decision.
He added that after receiving no response, the group eventually went to court using only its initial letter of intent, which he argued was not enough to prove compliance with the Electoral Act and constitutional provisions.
Ardo further stated that a valid registration process requires completion of Form EC15, as well as uploading several documents on INEC’s portal, including a party constitution, manifesto, list of national executives, and proof of payment of the required fee.
He alleged that the NDC did not complete the form, upload the required documents, or make the necessary payment before seeking judicial intervention.
Ardo maintained that INEC was aware the association had not met the conditions for registration and should have challenged the court’s ruling in favour of the group.
He said: “Why I oppose NDC? I need to explain that so that the castigation against me and then the misunderstanding by a lot of Nigerians, maybe assuaged
“You see, before you register a political party, the steps are one, you form an association. So they formed an association of Nigerian Democratic Congress NDC.
“Then you will write a letter of intent to INEC and say to INEC that we have formed this association and is serious to be registered as a political party. This is the name of the association. This is the acronym of the association, and this is the logo of the association, can you open the portal for us so that we apply in the portal by filling from EC15. This is the form that you must fill in if you want to register.
“NDC wrote to INEC this letter of intent. INEC then wrote back to NDC, said that, look, NDC, this your registration, we cannot continue with it, because your logo is different. It is similar to other political parties and political associations, therefore we cannot continue with you.
“Then the law says that if INEC writes to such a letter within 14 days, you should go to court. But NDC now wrote back to INEC and said, INEC, reconsider your position. INEC did not answer.
“After about a month or so, NDC wrote again. It said, we are giving you one month, you know, one week to reconsider.
“INEC did not answer. And then NDC picked this letter and went to court. And with that letter, the court said NDC had fulfilled all the requirements of the Constitution, all the requirements of the Electoral Act and all the guidelines, which is not true.
“This is because until you fill the form EC 15, where you upload the name of your party. Two, you upload this acronym. Three, you upload the logo. Four, you upload the Constitution. Five, you upload the manifesto. Six, you upload the executive members, national executive members. Seven, you upload the fee. You have to even pay a fee and get the receipt for INEC to give you the access the portal.
“You have to upload it. You have to upload 29 documents for you to be that you have applied. NDC did not do that. NDC did not pay. NDC did not fill that form. NDC did not do anything. NDC just took one letter to court, and the court said, You have fulfilled everything. If NDC can mislead the court, if NDC can beguile the gullible Nigerians, NDC could not do that to INEC because INEC knows the truth. INEC knows that NDC did not apply. So once they come with that judgment, INEC ought to have resisted and appealed.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
