AAP THREATENS LEGAL ACTION AGAINST INEC OVER ALLEGED UNLAWFUL REFUSAL TO REGISTER PARTY
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The African Alliance Party (AAP) has threatened to take the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court over what it described as an unlawful refusal to register the party despite meeting all constitutional and statutory requirements.
The party, which is among several political associations seeking registration ahead of the 2027 general elections, accused INEC of undermining Nigeria’s democracy and applying double standards in the ongoing registration process.
INEC had on Thursday approved the registration of two new political parties following what it described as a rigorous screening exercise. The decision was announced in Abuja by the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, during INEC’s first regular consultative meeting with political parties in 2026.
Amupitan disclosed that out of 171 political associations that applied for registration, only the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) met all statutory requirements, while the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) was registered in compliance with a Federal High Court order.
Reacting to the development in a press release titled “Register AAP Now or Face Legal Action”, issued in Abuja, the AAP said its exclusion from the final list of registered parties was unjustified.
In the statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Sadiq, the party insisted that it fully complied with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act, and INEC’s 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
“The AAP demands immediate registration as a political party by INEC or face legal action. The integrity of INEC is at stake,” Sadiq said.
He accused the commission of double standards, alleging that the NDC was registered despite not participating in the registration process or being listed on INEC’s official platforms for public scrutiny.
Sadiq further argued that court orders relied upon by INEC must be based on credible evidence of compliance, warning that “you cannot build something on nothing.”
The party vowed to challenge what it described as INEC’s bias, abuse of legal process and policy inconsistency, stressing that due process and the rule of law must prevail.
With the latest approvals, the number of registered political parties in Nigeria has risen to 20.
Despite missing out on the latest round of registrations, the AAP said it remained undeterred, urging its members to sustain grassroots mobilisation as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify.
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