Abuja — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), a proposed political party reportedly backed by several high-profile opposition figures, has not yet fulfilled the legal requirements necessary for official registration.
In a statement issued by Mr. Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission stated that although it has received numerous letters of intent from various political associations, none have progressed to the stage of formal application.
“The truth is that we have so many letters of intent presently and none of them is an application yet,” Olumekun explained. “They must first meet the criteria before submitting a letter of intent.”
The clarification comes in the wake of media speculation that ADA—linked to a coalition of opposition figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President David Mark, and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi—had initiated the process for INEC recognition, allegedly in preparation to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
However, INEC stressed that the registration of a new political party is a process strictly governed by the 2022 Electoral Act and the commission’s internal guidelines. The process begins with the submission of a formal letter of intent, which is followed by several layers of verification and compliance.
Key prerequisites for registration include:
- Submission of a proposed name, acronym, and party symbol.
- Confirmation of the availability and acceptability of the proposed name and logo.
- Payment of administrative fees and completion of Form EC 15A (1).
- Upload and submission of core founding documents such as the party’s constitution, manifesto, and evidence of a functioning national secretariat (e.g., a title deed).
- A comprehensive register of members.
- Proof that the national executive members reflect Nigeria’s federal character, with representation from no fewer than 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Following the submission of these documents, INEC is required to conduct further verification, including site visits to inspect the secretariat and to verify the identities of executive members.
The commission also warned that any association found to have submitted false information or failed to comply with the established criteria may not only face rejection of their application but could also be prosecuted under the law.
The guidelines, as reiterated by INEC, emphasize that: “No association by whatever name called shall be registered as a political party unless the association submits to the chairman of the commission the following documents, which shall be administratively checked to ensure conformity…”
With this statement, INEC has effectively countered growing public narratives suggesting that ADA’s registration is already underway or close to completion. The commission reaffirmed that due process must be followed by all aspiring political groups and that there are no shortcuts to party recognition under Nigerian law.
