Umar Ardo Explains Why He Opposed INEC’s Registration of the NDC

Umar Ardo, the promoter of the Alliance for Democratic Action (ADA), explained his opposition to the registration of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

During an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday, Ardo claimed that the NDC did not comply with the constitutional and electoral procedures required for party registration.

He said that the registration process for a political party begins with the formation of an association, followed by the submission of a formal letter of intent to INEC that includes the proposed party name, acronym, and logo.

Ardo noted that the NDC sent a registration request to INEC, but the commission rejected it because the party’s logo was too similar to those of other parties and associations.

According to the law, the association should have taken the matter to court within 14 days, but instead it wrote to INEC asking for a reconsideration.

After no reply from the commission, the group filed a court case using only its letter of intent, which Ardo said was inadequate to prove compliance with the Electoral Act and constitutional provisions.

Ardo explained that a political association must fill out Form EC15 and upload documents such as the party constitution, manifesto, national executive members’ details, and proof of payment to INEC’s portal.

He alleged that the NDC had not completed the form or uploaded the necessary documents before going to court.

Ardo said that INEC knew the association had not met the registration requirements and should have challenged and appealed the court’s ruling in favor of the NDC.

He said: “Why I oppose NDC? I need to explain that so that the castigation against me and then the misunderstanding by a lot of Nigerians, maybe assuaged”

“You see, before you register a political party, the steps are one, you form an association. So they formed an association of Nigerian Democratic Congress NDC.”

“Then you will write a letter of intent to INEC and say to INEC that we have formed this association and is serious to be registered as a political party. This is the name of the association. This is the acronym of the association, and this is the logo of the association, can you open the portal for us so that we apply in the portal by filling from EC15. This is the form that you must fill in if you want to register.”

“NDC wrote to INEC this letter of intent. INEC then wrote back to NDC, said that, look, NDC, this your registration, we cannot continue with it, because your logo is different. It is similar to other political parties and political associations, therefore we cannot continue with you.”

“Then the law says that if INEC writes to such a letter within 14 days, you should go to court. But NDC now wrote back to INEC and said, INEC, reconsider your position. INEC did