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A civil society organisation, Nigeria Democratic Rights Advocacy (NDRA), has raised concerns over an alleged violation of the revised Electoral Act prohibiting dual membership of political parties.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the group said its attention was drawn to “disturbing inconsistencies” in official party records listing Barrister Reuben Egwuaba as National Legal Adviser in both the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), with one of the listings reportedly backed “by court order.”
The statement, signed by the group’s General Secretary, Julius Aondowase, described the situation as more than a clerical error, warning that it poses serious legal and constitutional concerns.
“This is not a clerical oversight; it is a serious legal contradiction with far-reaching implications,” the statement said.
Citing provisions of the amended Electoral Act, particularly Section 77, NDRA noted that membership of more than one political party at the same time is expressly prohibited.
“The law is clear and uncompromising: any individual found guilty of dual party membership is liable to a fine of up to ₦10 million and/or a prison term of up to two years,” the group stated.
It further emphasised that the position of National Legal Adviser is a key office within a party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), requiring full and exclusive membership.
“Occupying this role in both the APM and NDC simultaneously is not only politically improper; it constitutes prima facie evidence of dual membership and a potential criminal offence under Nigerian law,” the statement added.
NDRA called for urgent clarification from all parties involved, stressing that the matter must not be ignored.
“If these records are accurate, then this is a clear violation of the law. If they are not, the public deserves an immediate correction and a full explanation as to how such conflicting information came to be officially documented,” the group said.
The organisation also urged relevant authorities, including electoral regulators, to investigate the issue without delay and take appropriate action.
“Political parties must not become safe havens for legal contradictions. The rule of law must be upheld without exception,” it stated.
The group added that Nigeria’s democracy must be guided by established rules rather than political convenience.
ADA Leader Ardo Alleges Illegal Registration Of NDC Party Newly Joined By Peter Obi, Kwankwaso
Ardo said the registration of the NDC was not only irregular but a blatant violation of constitutional provisions, the Electoral Act, and INEC’s own guidelines.
The convener of the League of Northern Democrats and a key promoter of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Dr. Umar Ardo, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of unlawfully registering the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), a party recently joined by former Anambra State governor Peter Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Ardo’s claims come amid growing political tension following Obi’s confirmation on Sunday of his exit from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing political interference, deepening internal crisis, and rising hostility within the party before decamping to the NDC.
Speaking during an interview on DCL Hausa, Ardo said the registration of the NDC was not only irregular but a blatant violation of constitutional provisions, the Electoral Act, and INEC’s own guidelines.
He alleged that while his group and 13 other political associations fulfilled all requirements for registration, they were ignored, whereas the NDC, which he claims did not even apply, was granted recognition under questionable circumstances.
“For fifteen years I have been going to court. I have taken national leaders to court, I took Goodluck Jonathan to court, I took Buhari to court, so I am not someone that can be used; let’s be honest,” Ardo said.
He expressed outrage at questions suggesting he was unfairly targeting the NDC.
“What kind of question is that? Is there any party that was registered without even applying? Tell me if there is,” he said.
“The reason is that NDC obtained registration without applying, without meeting the requirements set by law, without meeting the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, and without meeting INEC’s guidelines. That is the issue. You can see the wrongdoing clearly, yet you are asking about NDC,” he said.
“Tell me any party that was registered without fulfilling requirements. If you can, I will also take it to court.”
Detailing his group’s efforts, Ardo said they followed due process meticulously.
“Indeed, we applied for registration with INEC. We fulfilled all requirements and paid all necessary fees. INEC wrote to us on September 11 confirming that we met all the conditions and qualified. The next stage was for us to present our full executive, offices, documents, and all claims for verification before final registration,” he said.
“We did all that. But suddenly, we were excluded from those to be registered. In fact, none of the 14 applicant groups were registered. So we went to court.”
He explained that while their case was still pending, INEC announced in February that it had registered two new political parties.
“One, they claimed, was registered independently by them. The other, they said, was registered by court order. We have no issue with what INEC did on its own. But the one the court ordered, Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), is the problem,” he said.
Ardo insisted that the NDC did not follow any known legal process.
“NDC did not even submit a letter of intent, did not apply, was not shortlisted, did not enter INEC’s registration portal, and did not submit required documents such as its constitution, manifesto, executive list, or payment. They did nothing. Yet suddenly, it was said that a court ordered INEC to register them,” he said.
“We do not accept that. It is unacceptable that we fulfilled everything while others did nothing and were still registered. That is outright corruption.”
Responding to arguments that INEC, not NDC, should be the focus of legal action, Ardo clarified that his group is pursuing an appeal, not a direct lawsuit against the party alone.
“We did not say we would sue NDC directly. What we are doing is filing an appeal. The Lokoja court ruled without NDC submitting any of the required documents under the Constitution, Electoral Act, or INEC guidelines. Nothing was submitted, yet the judge gave the ruling,” he said.
He raised serious concerns about the judge who delivered the ruling, alleging possible bias and influence.
“We have concerns about the judge. He is from Adamawa State, from the same local government as us; we even attended the same secondary school. He was serving in Bayelsa when the NDC leader was governor there, and from there he was transferred to Lokoja. We believe he was influenced to give that judgment.”
Ardo further questioned the speed of the NDC case compared to others.
“Within 32 days, their case was heard and decided, while our own case has been in court for five months without hearing. These kinds of actions create instability in the country,” he said.
“I have seen corruption in government before, but this level of corruption in party registration and the judiciary is extreme.”
He also criticised INEC for refusing to challenge the ruling.
“INEC has already said it will not appeal. It has issued NDC a certificate. Even on INEC’s website, it claims the registration was by court order, but there was no proper court order, because no proper submission was made before judgment. Only after registration did they begin submitting names,” he said.
Highlighting the financial and logistical burden borne by his group, Ardo said, “We spent nearly two million naira on this process and opened offices across all states.”
When asked who should be held responsible, Ardo pointed fingers at multiple actors.
“There are three parties at fault: NDC, the court, and INEC. All are responsible. When we appeal, we will include INEC and join NDC as a beneficiary of the action,” he said.
Rejecting claims that the NDC bears no responsibility, he argued that the party must be held accountable as a beneficiary of what he described as an illegitimate process.
“How is it not at fault? There are rules for registration. Can you just write one letter and become a party? Look at what Justice Murtala Nyako did in our case, she properly ordered INEC to open the portal for us to complete registration. That is how it should be done. But here, just one letter and suddenly a party is registered? Where has that ever happened?” he queried.
Ardo dismissed suggestions that his criticism was triggered by the recent defection of prominent politicians to the NDC.
“NDC was registered on February 5. On February 6, the very next day, I went on television and challenged it. I spoke on Arise TV, Trust TV, Channels TV, and in newspapers. So this is not new, and it has nothing to do with who is joining the party,” he said.
In a striking allegation, he suggested possible government backing for the party.
“Ironically, I suspect NDC itself may be backed by the government. How can a party that did not apply, did not submit documents, and did not meet legal requirements suddenly get a court judgment and registration, and INEC refuses to appeal? That suggests government involvement,” he said.
“But I cannot be used by any government. I have taken Jonathan and Buhari to court. If we do not stand for truth, this country will continue to decline.”
Reiterating his position, Ardo challenged critics to provide examples of similar cases.
“Again, show me any party registered without applying or meeting requirements. If you can, I will challenge that one too,” he said.
He warned Nigerians and politicians considering joining the NDC.
“Anyone who wants to join NDC should know that it did not obtain registration through due process, but through questionable means. If you are comfortable with that, you may join. But anyone who believes in justice, fairness, and integrity should avoid it,” he said.
“We will not allow this to stand. Nigerians must rise and reject injustice because even if it benefits us today, it will harm us tomorrow.”
SaharaReporters previously on Sunday that Obi and Kwankwaso had officially dumped the ADC for the NDC.
The duo, accompanied by a heavy contingent of National Assembly members, stormed the NDC National Secretariat in Abuja to finalize their entry into the party.
This move came just hours after Obi announced his resignation from the ADC, citing insurmountable challenges within the party’s structure.
Senator Kwankwaso, who had earlier hinted at wide-ranging consultations following legal threats to deregister the ADC, confirmed that he and Obi reached a mutual agreement to quit the embattled platform.
Before arriving at the party’s headquarters, the political leaders led a massive wave of supporters to the Abuja residence of the NDC National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson.
Following their meeting, the group proceeded to the NDC Secretariat, where they were officially welcomed into the fold.
As seen on Sahara Reporter
