A Federal High Court in Abuja has upheld the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to refuse registration to the All Allies Alliance (AAA), ruling that political party registration is subject to compliance with constitutional and electoral requirements.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment in a suit filed by an aggrieved member of the association, Jyde Adelakun, who challenged INEC’s refusal to register the group as a political party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The plaintiff had asked the court to declare AAA automatically registered, arguing that INEC failed to notify the association in writing of any non-compliance within the 90-day statutory period stipulated under Section 75(4) of the Electoral Act 2022.
He also sought an order compelling INEC to register the association or recognise it as a registered political party and include it among parties eligible to participate in the 2027 general elections.
The plaintiff further requested 50 million naira in damages over what he described as violations of his fundamental rights and those of other members of the association.
However, INEC opposed the suit, arguing that AAA had failed to satisfy the requirements for political party registration. The commission specifically cited the absence of an address in Abuja and the failure to appoint a Protem Secretary.
In resolving the matter, Justice Omotosho considered whether the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026 invalidated the plaintiff’s case and whether the association was entitled to the reliefs sought.
On the first issue, the judge held that the case remained valid because the applicable law at the time the cause of action arose was the Electoral Act 2022.
The court also noted that INEC announced its election timetable after the association had submitted its application, adding that the commission could not rely on its subsequent revision of the timetable to prejudice the plaintiff’s case.
However, on the second issue, the judge ruled that the association had failed to meet the requirements for registration, justifying INEC’s decision to reject its application.
Justice Omotosho observed that the association’s letter to INEC did not clearly constitute a formal expression of intent to register as a political party, but appeared instead to be a request for guidelines and regulations governing the registration process.
He further held that even if the letter were considered a formal expression of intent, it still failed to satisfy the relevant guidelines.
The ruling reinforces the requirement for political associations seeking registration in Nigeria to comply with the applicable constitutional and electoral provisions before they can be recognised as political parties.
