Says INEC foot-dragging about registering new parties
A top source close to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday doused fears that the African Democratic Congress, ADC, may have been dumped as the vehicle for the proposed opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A senior member of the opposition team who’d rather not speak on record told this newspaper the choice of ADC was a well-thought-out decision, weighed against the backdrop of the current delays at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the registration of new parties.
He spoke in reaction to a press conference over the weekend by the League of Northern Democrats (LND), a part of the opposition movement, which said neither the ADC nor the Social Democratic Party,SDP, would serve the strategic needs of the coalition.
Umar Ardo, convener of LND, told a press conference that neither party would serve the purpose of the opposition coalition. “The ADC, SDP and similar existing parties already possess entrenched ward, local government, state and zonal structures whose leadership tenures remain legally binding and often deeply resistant to reform,” he said.
According to him, “Fusing into such parties without full and prior harmonisation of interests and control of these structures invites chaos, factionalism, litigation and paralysis.”
Ardo said attempts to merge into existing parties are fraught with structural, legal and ideological risks. Citing examples of past failed alliances, including the collapse of the NNPP fusion with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Ardo warned of repeating history if the coalition enters a pre-existing party without full control.
He also dispelled concerns that time was insufficient to establish a new party. “Contrary to certain fears, the timeframe between now and the 2027 elections is sufficient for a serious and focused coalition to register and build a credible new political party,” Ardo said.
“We assert that the opposition movement we advocate is not just about seizing power. It is about presenting a national rebirth rooted in values, principles, and competence,” he stated.
“A new party, by contrast, provides a clean ideological slate, a fresh institutional architecture, and a compelling narrative of rebirth, one that can win the hearts and minds of Nigerians weary of recycled platforms and failed promises.
Based on these conclusions, the LND issued a set of formal recommendations, being:
“That the opposition coalition adopts registration of a new party as its first stance;
“That the opposition immediately initiates the process of registering a new political party with a unifying name, clear ideology, and inclusive leadership charter;
“That this new party shall reflect the diversity of Nigeria while being rooted in merit, justice, productivity, and patriotism;
“That all conversations and moves toward fusing into existing political parties should be taken as a fallback option;
“That the LND will commit itself to mobilising other patriotic actors, civil society voices, and young Nigerians to rally behind this new formation as the vehicle for national redemption.”
The recommendations were signed by thirteen senior figures within the LND, including Dr. Umar Ardo, AVM Monday Morgan (Retd), Senator AbdulRahman Abubakar, Rt. Hon. Aminu Shehu Shagari, Dr. Bilkisu Magoro, Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (Retd), and others.
But the senior member of the coalition who spoke to KTH.ng said the issue of registering a new party is easier said than done. He drew attention to reports in the media indicating that INEC was not showing much enthusiasm about registering new parties.
He drew attention to comments of former All Progressives Congress, APC, Vice Chairman, North West, Comrade Salihu Lukman, who complained about the foot-dragging at INEC.
Comrade Lukman had said: “At the moment, and it’s no secret, we have already raised that alarm. More than 70 groups have submitted applications to INEC seeking registration. But INEC is ‘sitting on them’.” He said that there is no indication of progress, as many (of the applicants) have not even received acknowledgement.
Lukman, who was speaking on Trust TV’s 30 Minutes, said: “By law, once INEC acknowledges your application, and 90 days pass without formal registration, you’re considered registered. But what’s happening is that even acknowledgements are being withheld. That’s a way of stalling the process, and it undermines the law. INEC is supposed to be an independent body.”
Our source said that it is in view of the potential situation of being denied registration through technical difficulties that made the coalition choose an existing platform.
He pointed out, however, that the coalition is made up of equal partners and at the end of the day there will be consensus on the way to go. “ But for now, it will be incorrect to say we have dumped ADC as the party to actualise the coalition,” he said.