By; Odieh Ramon, Yenagoa.

A storm of controversy has trailed the registration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with promoters of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) alleging that the party emerged through a fraudulent and opaque process outside the guidelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking on separate television appearances on Arise News Morning Show and Trust TV, Dr. Umar Ardo, a leading promoter of the ADA, accused INEC of compromising its own procedures by registering a political party that, according to him, never participated in the official screening process.

Ardo disclosed that no fewer than 171 political associations initially submitted expressions of interest for registration, out of which only 14 were shortlisted by INEC.

He added that on September 15, 2025, INEC published the list of the 14 political associations that progressed to the next stage, which included verification of their offices nationwide.

According to him, the 14 groups were further screened, with only eight advancing to the commission’s verification stage on its portal.

He maintained that the ADA fully complied with all stipulated requirements and participated throughout the process but was denied registration. In contrast, he alleged that the NDC was absent at every stage.

“It is shocking that a political association that did not submit an application, was not shortlisted among the 14, and did not make the final eight, suddenly appeared with a registration certificate,” he said.

Ardo rejected INEC’s explanation that the NDC was registered on the basis of a court order, describing the claim as untenable. He argued that due judicial process would require proper filings and INEC’s participation in court proceedings.

“For a court to give such an order, there must have been submissions, and INEC must have been served and represented. We intend to obtain Certified True Copies of the court processes from the Federal High Court in Lokoja to understand what transpired,” he added.

He likened the situation to awarding a contract to a bidder who neither applied nor participated in the bidding process, warning that such an outcome undermines fairness, transparency, and institutional credibility.

The development has triggered anger among stakeholders who reportedly invested significant resources in meeting INEC’s requirements but were excluded.

Ardo also dismissed claims linking the ADA to Peter Obi, describing them as unfounded rumours aimed at discrediting the group. He insisted that the ADA is an independent initiative rooted in constitutional rights.

On next steps, he confirmed that the ADA has initiated legal action and is prepared to pursue the matter up to the Supreme Court if necessary. He stressed that the effort is not limited to the 2027 elections but aimed at establishing due process in Nigeria’s political system.

“We are determined to prove that we fulfilled all legal requirements and were unjustly denied registration,” he said.

The controversy comes amid broader debates on electoral reforms, including calls for compulsory electronic transmission of election results to enhance transparency.

Observers say the outcome of the legal dispute could significantly impact public trust in INEC and shape the future of party registration in Nigeria.

At the time of filing this report, the leader of the NDC, Henry Seriake Dickson, and the party’s National Chairman, Moses Cleopas, declined to comment on the allegations.