Court orders INEC to release ADA access code to Rickett-led exco

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A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to generate and release an access code to the Chief Akin Rickett-led leadership of the All Democratic Alliance to enable the association to continue its registration process as a political party.

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Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment, directed INEC to issue the access code to the association’s Protem Secretary within 72 hours and further ordered the electoral body to reopen its registration portal for one week to allow the upload of the party’s membership register and other statutory documents.

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The court held that INEC acted unlawfully by issuing the access code to Umar Ardo, whom it found was neither the recognised Protem National Chairman nor Protem Secretary of the association.

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Justice Lifu consequently declared the commission’s decision to release the access code to Ardo illegal, wrongful, null and void.

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The judge also nullified all documents and actions taken by Ardo on behalf of the proposed political party in relation to its registration with the electoral body.

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The suit was instituted by the association through its counsel, Stephen Atabo, after INEC allegedly refused to issue the access code required to upload documents necessary for the registration of the All Democratic Alliance in accordance with the Electoral Act and the commission’s guidelines.

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The plaintiff argued that the commission violated the law by recognising Ardo instead of the leadership led by Chief Rickett and sought a declaration that all information uploaded by Ardo into INEC’s registration portal was unlawful and should be set aside.

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The claimant also asked the court to compel INEC to issue the access code to the recognised leadership, register the association as a political party and issue it a certificate of registration.

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In addition, the plaintiff sought an order extending the commission’s May 10, 2026 deadline for submission of the party’s digital membership register and the May 30, 2026 deadline for the submission of candidates.

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After reviewing the evidence and arguments of the parties, Justice Lifu held that Ardo lacked the legal authority to act on behalf of the association and declared all steps taken by him in pursuit of the party’s registration invalid.

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The court ordered INEC to issue the access code to the recognised leadership within 72 hours and reopen its portal for one week to enable the association complete the registration process by uploading its membership register and other required documents.

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