An acting Director of Organisation for All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Ahidjo Karlahi, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the deregistration of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The case, lodged last week Tuesday and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1115/2026, has been assigned to Justice Mohammed Umar after allocation by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho.
The legal move comes amid claims by Seriake Dickson, the national leader of the NDC, who recently insisted that the party is fully recognised and not facing any legal challenge over its registration. He made the remark during the party’s inaugural national convention in Abuja.
However, Karlahi is challenging the legality of the party’s registration process, naming INEC and the NDC as defendants in the originating summons.
He argued that the NDC failed to meet the constitutional and statutory requirements outlined under Sections 221–225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act 2022.
Karlahi also claimed that the party was not part of the associations approved to participate in INEC’s 2025 political party registration exercise and did not complete mandatory procedures required for official recognition.
In his supporting claims, he said, “The NDC was not listed among the prequalified associations for formal application in the 2025 political parties registration exercise;
“The NDC was not listed among those associations that paid the mandatory N2,000,000.00 administrative fee and received access codes to the INEC’s Application Portal for the 2025 registration exercise;
“The NDC did not access INEC’s dedicated Political Party Registration Portal during the 2025 registration exercise which is the only way to fill the Form EC15A
“The NDC did not hence fill INEC’s mandatory form EC15A, which is the only valid means of formally applying for registration as a political party; and
“The NDC was not listed among the pre-qualified political associations published by INEC as having applied. These are not mere allegations – they are matters of public record.”
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He is asking the court to declare the party’s registration and continued recognition as unconstitutional, unlawful, and invalid.
Karlahi further urged the court to compel INEC to remove the party from its official register and stop recognising it as a political party.
He added, “My suit respectfully prays the Court to in essence:
“Declare that the Constitution does not permit an entity that never satisfied constitutional conditions for registration to be registered and to continue enjoying the status of a political party.
“Declare the continuing administrative recognition of the NDC by INEC as unconstitutional and unlawful.
“Set aside the continuing recognition of NDC’s Certificate of Registration issued by INEC. Order INEC to halt its continuing recognition of NDC from its official register of political parties;
“Forbid INEC from continuing to deal with NDC as a political party; restrain the NDC from continuing to parade itself or continuing to participate in any electoral activity as a registered political party.
“This suit is instituted solely by me as a citizen to advance constitutionalism, the rule of law and electoral integrity in our democracy. It is not directed against any individual or group of persons.”
He maintained that the action was driven by public interest and not political motivation, stressing that it was not initiated on behalf of ADA or any organisation.
Karlahi also urged Nigerians and stakeholders to follow the case closely, describing it as a test of constitutional compliance in the country’s democratic system.
He added, “I believe that electoral integrity is the bedrock of constitutional democracy. If the process for registering political parties is compromised, the entire democratic edifice is at risk. This suit is my contribution to safeguarding that process.
“I call on all Nigerians – regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, or religion – to understand, support and be patient as this matter proceeds through the judicial process.
“The courts remain the last refuge of the common man and the ultimate guardian of our Constitution. I have faith in the judiciary and trust that justice will be done according to law.
“I urge the media, civil society and the general public to follow this case with the seriousness it deserves, not as a partisan squabble, but as a test of whether our constitutional order will be respected or eroded,” he concluded.