Omission of “electoral” in application letter to INEC casts doubt over registration of Atiku and El-Rufai’s new party, the All Democratic AllianceAtiku Abubakar, Nasir el-Rufai, INEC Nigeria, political party registration, All Democratic Alliance

Electoral omission threatens party registration efforts as opposition leaders under the coalition banner fail to meet a key requirement in their application to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

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The omission of the word “electoral” from a letter submitted to the body may prove costly for their bid to form a new party, the All Democratic Alliance.

On June 19, a letter was addressed to “The Chairman, Independent National Commission (INEC), 436, Zambezi Crescent, Maitama, Abuja FCT.”

This letter, however, failed to include the full and correct name of the electoral body—an error that could derail the application.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai are leading the charge behind this new political movement.

The letter requesting registration was signed by Akin Ricketts, national chairman of the ADA, and Abdullahi Musa Elayo, its protem national secretary.

“We respectfully write to the Independent National Electoral Commission requesting the registration of our association, the All Democratic Alliance as a political party,” the letter read. A stamped copy shows it was received by INEC on 20 June.

Despite the formal language, the mistake of omitting “electoral” in the commission’s name on the letterhead raises a technical question that may complicate the party’s fate. Whether this lapse will be overlooked or lead to outright rejection remains unclear.

Under Nigerian law, the Independent National Electoral Commission holds the power to register or deregister political parties.

The 1999 Constitution, as amended, outlines strict requirements, including accurate documentation, inclusive membership, a registered constitution, and a headquarters in Abuja.

Section 75 of the Electoral Act 2022 reinforces this by mandating that all political associations must apply at least twelve months before a general election. Compliance with every clause, including accurate identification of the commission, is implied.

The slogan of the new party, “Justice for All,” may appeal to a wide base. However, procedural errors can undermine the seriousness of even the most well-intentioned movements.

A legal expert familiar with political party registration explained, “A seemingly minor omission could be interpreted as noncompliance, depending on how strict INEC chooses to be. It is not just what you say, but how and where you say it.”

While the coalition remains hopeful, its application must now survive both legal scrutiny and administrative rigour.