“We Will Resist This Injustice” – AAP Takes INEC to Court Over NDC Registration
The African Alliance Party (AAP) has announced plans to approach the courts over what it describes as an unlawful and controversial registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The party said the development amounts to a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic process and vowed to resist it through legal means.
AAP insists that due process was ignored and that the commission acted outside its own guidelines.
Speaking on the issue, AAP National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, said the party would seek the immediate removal of NDC from the list of registered political parties.
According to him, there is no evidence that NDC ever applied for registration with the commission.
He said, “NDC was deceitfully and mischievously registered by INEC in place of African Alliance Party on 5th February 2026, knowing full well that the association was not part of the 14 pre-qualified associations, not among the eight associations that uploaded their documents into INEC portal, paid administrative fees and verification exercise carried out by the commission, and definitely not among the two political associations INEC approved to be registered as reported in the national media of 25th December 2025.”
Sadiq maintained that AAP fully participated in all the required stages outlined by the electoral body. He stressed that the party met every condition, including documentation, payment of fees, and verification exercises.
He added, “AAP was in all of these processes and the first of the two associations INEC finally approved, endorsed and authorised for registration in December 2025, under Prof Joash Amupitan’s watch as INEC chairman.”
The party described the action as deliberate exclusion and an attack on constitutional democracy. It warned that the situation could undermine public trust in the electoral system if left unchecked.
According to Sadiq, “To reject AAP for a contrived NDC is justice juxtaposed, an assault on the ongoing electoral process and politics of exclusion that has impeded the nation’s constitutional governance. It shall be resisted in national interest and our collective quest for sustainable democracy.”
AAP disclosed that its National Executive Committee met in Abuja on February 17, 2026, where members unanimously agreed to challenge the registration in court.
He stated, “Accordingly, AAP National Executive Committee (NEC) met in Abuja on Tuesday, 17th February 2026, and resolved amongst others to challenge INEC’s registration of the purported National Democratic Congress in court and demand its deregistration.”
The party further questioned the credibility of the commission’s leadership, warning that the decision could damage the integrity of the electoral umpire.
Sadiq said, “The deregistration of NDC is the first step in sanitising the democratic system. Prof Amupitan has already soiled his hand in this matter questioning his capacity, integrity and patriotism as the chairman of the electoral management body who ought to live above board as so much is required of him in conducting credible, transparent and inclusive elections that meet international standards.”
AAP also cautioned the commission against actions it believes could destabilise the political environment.
He warned, “AAP warns Amupitan not to jeopardise the democratic process and overheat the polity by unlawfully excluding a qualified political association and ingloriously registering an unqualified group to appease a cabal.”
The party insisted that party registration is a constitutional process and not a personal discretion of any official.
He said, “Prof Amupitan should know that the registration of political party is not a Valentine’s gift to a favoured association. It is not a gesture to dispense at his pleasure.”
Sadiq concluded by urging the commission to reverse the decision in the interest of fairness and democracy.
