A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to generate and release an access code to the Chief Akin Rickett-led leadership of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) to enable the association continue its registration process as a political party.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Peter Lifu directed INEC to issue the access code to the association’s Protem Secretary within 72 hours.
The court also ordered the electoral commission to reopen its registration portal for one week to allow the association upload its membership register and other statutory documents required for registration.
Justice Lifu ruled that INEC acted unlawfully by issuing the access code to Umar Ardo, whom the court held was neither the recognised Protem National Chairman nor Protem Secretary of the association.
The judge subsequently declared INEC’s decision to issue the code to Ardo illegal, null and void, and invalidated every action and document submitted by him on behalf of the proposed political party.
The case was filed by the association through its lawyer, Stephen Atabo, after alleging that INEC refused to issue the access code to the recognised leadership in line with the Electoral Act and the commission’s registration guidelines.
The plaintiffs argued that the commission wrongly recognised Ardo and asked the court to set aside every document he uploaded to INEC’s registration portal.
After considering the evidence presented, Justice Lifu held that Ardo lacked the legal authority to act for the association and ordered INEC to recognise the Rickett-led leadership for the registration process.
The court further directed the electoral body to issue the access code within the stipulated period and reopen its portal to enable the association complete the submission of its membership register and other required documents.
