AAP Threatens to Sue INEC to Court if It Fails to Register Party Ahead of 2027

The African Alliance Party (AAP) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that it will take legal action if the commission fails to register it as a political party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group accused INEC of unfair treatment and selective approval of political associations. It said the process has become inconsistent and damaging to Nigeria’s democratic space.

AAP made this known in a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq.

The party said it has satisfied all conditions required for registration but was later removed without explanation.

According to the statement, INEC had earlier released a list of 14 political associations that were pre-qualified out of 171 applications received nationwide. AAP was among those listed.

INEC also invited the interim chairmen and secretaries of the shortlisted associations to its headquarters for a briefing. After that meeting, a portal was opened for the upload of required documents.

AAP said INEC later confirmed that only eight of the 14 associations, including AAP, successfully completed the submission process.

The party insisted that its documents met all constitutional and administrative requirements.

“It is clear that we met all the requirements for registration as a political party, and was ‘unlawfully’ removed by INEC. This injustice shall not stand. It is a calculated assault on the nation’s democracy,” Sadiq said.

The group further referred to reports showing that only two associations, AAP and the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), reached the final stage of the registration process.

It described INEC’s later actions as a sudden policy shift capable of shrinking political participation ahead of the 2027 elections.

“AAP demands immediate registration as a political party by INEC or face legal action,” the statement added.

AAP also raised questions over the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). The party alleged that NDC did not take part in the documented registration process.

It claimed that NDC was neither listed among the pre-qualified associations nor shown on INEC’s official platforms during the submission period.

“The integrity of INEC is at stake. It’s double-standard is glaring in registering the purported Nigeria Democratic Congress that didn’t participate in the registration process nor listed on the INEC’s website and other official platforms for public information. On what criterion was NDC registered?” the party asked.

The association warned that failure to address its complaint would force it to seek redress in court.

AAP said it would not accept any outcome that undermines transparency or denies eligible groups the right to political participation.

The party called on INEC to publish a clear explanation of how decisions were reached and why some associations were dropped after meeting the stated requirements.

However, AAP also urged civil society groups and Nigerians to pay close attention to the registration process.