Court Orders INEC to Release ADA Registration Access Code Within 72 Hours

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue the registration access code for the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) to the party's recognised leadership, led by Chief Akin Rickett.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Peter Lifu directed INEC to generate and release the access code to ADA's Protem Secretary within 72 hours.

The court held that INEC acted unlawfully by issuing the access code to Dr Umar Ardo, who was found not to be the recognised Protem Secretary of the political association. Justice Lifu declared the commission's action illegal, null and void.

The judge also ordered INEC to reopen its registration portal for one week to enable the association upload all required documents, including its digital membership register, in line with the Electoral Act.

The suit was filed by the plaintiff through counsel, Stephen Atabo, against INEC and Umar Ardo. The plaintiff argued that INEC failed to issue the access code to the recognised leadership of the association, preventing it from completing the registration process.

The plaintiff further contended that INEC breached the law by issuing the code to Ardo, who was neither the Protem National Chairman nor the Protem Secretary of the association. It also asked the court to invalidate all information uploaded by Ardo on behalf of ADA, arguing that the documents differed from those contained in the association's original letter of intent.

Among the reliefs sought were orders directing INEC to issue the access code to the recognised leadership, register ADA as a political party, issue its certificate of registration, and extend earlier submission deadlines for the party's digital membership register and candidate nominations.

After considering the arguments of all parties, Justice Lifu ruled that Ardo had no legal authority to act on behalf of the association and nullified every step taken by him in the registration process.

While the plaintiff requested 96 hours for INEC to issue the access code, the court granted the electoral commission 72 hours to comply with the order.