By Eshioromeh Sebastian
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to generate and release a registration access code to the Chief Akin Rickett-led leadership of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), clearing the way for the political association’s formal registration as a party.
Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgment delivered on Monday, gave INEC 72 hours to release the code to ADA’s protem secretary after ruling that the electoral body acted illegally by issuing the code to Umar Ardo, whom the court found was not a recognised officer of the party.
The judge declared INEC’s earlier action “illegal, wrongful, null and void” and voided all subsequent steps taken on the party’s behalf using that code, including any documents Ardo uploaded to the commission’s portal.
The court further ordered INEC to reopen its registration portal for one week to allow the Rickett-led leadership to upload ADA’s membership register and other required documents.
Legal Dispute Background
The suit was filed by Stephen Atabo on behalf of the Rickett faction against INEC and Ardo as defendants. The plaintiffs argued that INEC had never properly issued them an access code despite their compliance with registration requirements and that handing the code to Ardo, who they said held no recognised position in the party, violated extant electoral law.
They also sought to nullify any information Ardo uploaded on the party’s behalf, arguing it conflicted with details in their original letter of intent.
Beyond the access code, the plaintiffs had asked the court to order INEC to register ADA as a political party and issue it a certificate of registration, as well as extend the commission’s May 10 and May 30, 2026, deadlines for submitting the digital membership register and list of candidates, respectively.
Court’s Reasoning
Justice Lifu found that Ardo was neither the party’s protem national chairman nor its secretary and, on that basis, nullified the steps taken in his name.
The judge also dismissed preliminary objections challenging the competence of the suit, including arguments that the action was statute-barred under Section 76 of the Electoral Act, 2022. Justice Lifu held that Section 76, which requires challenges to INEC’s refusal to register a political party to be filed within 14 days, was inapplicable because INEC had not taken any decision refusing ADA’s registration.
According to the court, the registration process remained ongoing since no formal letter of refusal had been issued by the commission.
The judge granted INEC 72 hours to comply, short of the 96 hours the plaintiffs had requested in their reliefs.
The judgment effectively clears the way for the Akin Rickett-led leadership of the All Democratic Alliance to continue its registration process with INEC as a political party.
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