Atiku’s coalition party commits major blunder

In a letter dated June 19 and addressed to “The Chairman, Independent National Commission,” a coalition seeking to form a new political party formally applied for registration under the name All Democratic Alliance (ADA). However, the omission of the word “Electoral” from the name of the electoral body could potentially cast doubt on the validity of the submission.

The letter, which was jointly signed by Akin Ricketts (interim national chairman) and Abdullahi Musa Elayo (pro tem national secretary), read:

“We respectfully write to the Independent National Electoral Commission requesting the registration of our association, the All Democratic Alliance, as a political party.”

A copy of the letter, stamped and acknowledged by the electoral body on June 20, was obtained by TheCable.

The group stated that ADA would adopt the slogan “Justice for All” and explained that the application stemmed from a resolution by the Nigerian National Coalition Group to sponsor the party’s formation.

While the typographical error in the commission’s name might appear minor, legal observers say it could complicate the registration process. Both the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022 emphasize strict adherence to procedural requirements.

Specifically, Section 75(1) of the Electoral Act mandates that any political association must apply for registration no later than 12 months before a general election. Additional criteria include proper documentation of party officials, nationwide inclusivity, and a permanent head office located in Abuja.

It remains unclear whether INEC will overlook the error or require the coalition to submit a corrected application.