Fresh controversy has emerged over the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party following a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja by the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) and its Protem Director of Mobilization, Ahidjo Ibrahim Karlahi.
The development follows the party’s announcement last week naming former Anambra Governor Peter Obi as its presidential flagbearer for the 2027 polls.
In the suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/1115/2026 and filed on June 2, 2026, the plaintiffs are asking the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw and revoke the registration of the NDC, alleging that the party was unlawfully and fraudulently registered.
ADA and Karlahi contend that INEC violated several constitutional and electoral provisions in the process leading to the registration of the party, which has former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, as its leader.
Filed through Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Bankole Joel Akomolafe, the plaintiffs allege that the electoral commission failed to comply with relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution, including Sections 1, 6, 13, 14, 222, and 251, as well as Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act. The plaintiffs argue that the NDC did not satisfy the constitutional requirements necessary for registration and maintain that INEC does not possess absolute discretion to register political parties without ensuring strict compliance with the law.
Consequently, ADA and Karlahi are seeking a declaration nullifying the certificate of registration issued to the NDC and an order directing INEC to revoke and cancel the party’s registration. In addition, the plaintiffs want the court to grant a perpetual injunction restraining INEC from recognizing, maintaining, or accepting the NDC as a registered political party for electoral purposes, alongside a separate perpetual injunction preventing the NDC from presenting itself to the public as a registered political party through publications, broadcasts, or any other means.
The suit is supported by a 25-paragraph affidavit sworn to by Karlahi, with INEC and the Nigeria Democratic Congress named as defendants.
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