Umar Ardo, a leading promoter of the proposed All Democratic Alliance (ADA), has firmly denied claims linking the political association to former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, describing the reports as false and misleading.
Ardo made the clarification on Friday, February 6, while speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, amid speculation that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was reluctant to register ADA because of perceived political undertones tied to Obi.
According to Ardo, rumours had circulated suggesting that ADA was Peter Obi’s political platform and that the former Anambra State governor intended to return to partisan politics through the proposed party, an allegation he dismissed outright.
“Yes, time is ticking. Well, one of the allegations that they say, what is going within, you know, milling within the rumor cycle is that ADA is Peter Obi’s own political party, that Peter Obi will be coming back into ADA,” Ardo said.
“And therefore, you know, because of the political undertone of it, ADA should not be registered. This is not true.”
He added that even if Obi were involved, it would not violate any law, stressing that every Nigerian has the constitutional right to sponsor or belong to a political party.
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“Assuming, without conceding that Peter Obi is behind the ADA, is Peter Obi not any Nigerian? Is he not? Does he not have the right, you know, to sponsor a political party and so on,” Ardo stated.
The ADA promoter further insisted that Obi had no involvement whatsoever in the project, saying there had been no direct or indirect engagement with him on the matter.
“But as I said, it is not about Peter Obi. I have not ever met with Peter Obi. I have not been discussed by anybody discussing Peter Obi on this matter,” he said.
Ardo maintained that ADA had fulfilled all legal requirements for registration but was disappointed by INEC’s refusal to grant approval. As a result, he said the group had resolved to seek judicial intervention.
“But for us to meet all this and then they (INEC) said no, we will keep quiet. Let the courts determine. That is our position,” he said.
He disclosed that the matter would be pursued to the highest court if necessary, insisting that the objective was to establish that due process had been followed.
“If the court determines it in good time, we believe that we are going to participate in the election if the court rules in our favour, but if the court does not determine it in our favour, we will take the matter up to the Supreme Court,” Ardo added.
“It really doesn’t matter whether we participate in this election or we do not participate in this election. We just want to prove a point that we have met all the requirements of the law, and for no just reason, INEC refused to register us.”