Court Slams INEC for Giving Wrong Man Access Code, Ordering 72-Hour Fix to Formally Register ADA Party

A major legal battle over the digital keys to Nigeria’s next political party has ended in a resounding victory for the opposition, with a federal court ordering electoral regulators to hand over official registration access codes within 72 hours.

The decisive judgment, handed down by Justice Peter Lifu at the Federal High Court in Abuja, has exposed a significant administrative error inside the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The lawsuit has stalled the formal registration of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), a political association fighting to secure a spot on the ballot ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The root of the legal crisis traces back to a major mix-up over digital portal credentials. According to court filings, the ADA leadership, represented by defense attorney Stephen Atabo, discovered that INEC had completely bypassed the party’s legitimate founders. Instead of sending the secure portal access codes to the recognized administrative desk, the commission mistakenly handed the secure codes to Dr. Umar Ardo.

Ardo, a prominent political figure, had used the digital login to upload a completely separate membership register and structural documents. The true founders argued this completely hijacked their political platform, as Ardo was neither the protem national chairman nor the secretary listed on the association’s original letter of intent.

Reviewing the evidence, Justice Lifu did not hold back in his assessment of the commission’s actions. The judge declared INEC’s decision to issue the access code to an unauthorized individual as completely illegal, wrongful, and nullified every single electronic upload performed under Ardo’s direction.

“The electoral body acted in direct violation of established guidelines when it allowed an unrecognized individual to manage the digital identity of a political association,” Justice Peter Lifu remarked during the delivery of the verdict. “To correct this administrative failure, the commission must generate and release a fresh registration access code to the legitimate protem secretary within 72 hours. Furthermore, the electronic portal must be opened for an uninterrupted period of one week to allow the rightful leadership to upload their official documents as required by law.”

The legal victory provides massive relief for Chief Akin Ricketts, the officially recognized protem national chairman of the ADA. Ricketts had dragged the commission to court after realizing his team was completely locked out of the digital registration system, a technical bottleneck that threatened to miss critical legal deadlines for party creation.

Beyond the immediate 72-hour code release, the court granted an explicit extension to the group’s compliance timeline. INEC is now legally obligated to adjust its original administrative deadlines, ensuring the ADA has ample time to compile and upload its verified nationwide membership lists without being unfairly penalized for the regulatory delay.

With the 72-hour countdown ticking away, the focus shifts entirely to INEC’s technical headquarters in Abuja. By using the judiciary to regain control of their digital portal, the leaders of the All Democratic Alliance have proved that technical gatekeeping will not stifle alternative political movements, paving the way for a fresh logo and platform to officially join Nigeria’s multi-party landscape.