The legal foundation of the newly formed [National Democratic Coalition/Party] (NDC) is under threat as a prominent political stakeholder, Dr. Umar Ardo, has confirmed that the party is facing a major lawsuit over alleged irregularities in its registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking on the development, Dr. Ardo revealed that a legal process is already underway to challenge the validity of the NDC’s certificate of registration. According to him, the process through which the party was cleared by INEC failed to meet the mandatory legal and procedural requirements.
Dr. Ardo expressed high confidence that the judiciary would find merit in the case and eventually nullify the existence of the party. He argued that the “irregularities” involved are too significant to be ignored by the temple of justice.
“We are already in court over NDC irregularities in registration by INEC,” Ardo stated. “The evidence of these procedural flaws is clear, and we are confident that the court will cancel the NDC registration in its entirety.”
While Dr. Ardo did not immediately detail the specific nature of the irregularities, sources close to the legal team suggest the grievances may center on documentation, adherence to the Electoral Act, or the fulfillment of constitutional requirements for the formation of a national political party.
This legal battle comes at a sensitive time for the opposition, as various factions attempt to consolidate their structures ahead of the next general elections. If the court rules in favor of Ardo, it could lead to a massive political vacuum for candidates and members who have already aligned themselves with the NDC.
Efforts to reach INEC for a comment on the pending litigation were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report, but the commission has historically maintained that it follows strict due diligence in the registration of political associations.
The case is expected to mention in the coming weeks, and political analysts believe the outcome will be a defining moment for the legality of new political platforms in Nigeria.
