The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted recent reports claiming that it has registered a new political party known as the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), stating unequivocally that no association has fulfilled the statutory conditions required for recognition as a political party in Nigeria.
In a statement issued by the Commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Sam Olumekun, INEC clarified that although it has received expressions of interest from various groups, none has submitted a valid application that complies with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Mr Olumekun explained that the communications received so far from interested organisations do not amount to formal applications and therefore do not initiate the official registration process.
The statement comes in response to widespread media claims linking the ADA to a coalition of prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President David Mark, and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi. The ADA is purported to be part of a broader strategy by opposition leaders to form a unified platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Despite growing speculation in political circles and online platforms, INEC stressed that no group has presented any documentation or submitted to the required vetting procedures that would make it eligible for registration.
The commission reiterated that the process for registering a political party in Nigeria is governed by the 2022 Electoral Act and involves several layers of legal and administrative scrutiny. These include the formal submission of a letter of intent, along with the party’s constitution, manifesto, proof of operational headquarters ownership, a verified membership register, and evidence that its leadership structure reflects Nigeria’s federal character, with executive representation from at least 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Only after satisfying these criteria does INEC proceed with inspections and final verifications, following which a certificate of registration may be issued.
The Commission warned that any attempt to circumvent the process or provide false or misleading information would lead to outright disqualification and could result in legal action.
INEC concluded by affirming that no group, “by whatever name called,” will be registered as a political party unless it meets the full legal and procedural requirements as set out in the law and the commission’s regulations.
