Ardo Alleges ADC Is Frustrating ADA Registration With INEC

Umar Ardo, a promoter of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), said on Wednesday that leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are trying to block ADA’s registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Ardo made the allegation during an appearance on The Morning Show on Arise Television, where he explained how opposition figures were pursuing two tracks at the same time ahead of the 2027 political cycle.

According to him, one group moved into the ADC as a national opposition coalition, while another group focused on securing INEC registration for ADA. He said the plan was designed as a backup arrangement so that both sides could still work together later, depending on which platform advanced without legal or administrative setbacks.

He said, “Well, the initial idea was that, let us take two positions at the same time while we fuse into ADC, that is the national opposition coalition, those who are committed to the registration of the political party now go in to register the ADA and that at a later time, we might meet somewhere in the field.

“If ADC encounters problem, ADA is always there for ADC. If ADA encounters a problem and could not be registered, they could always move into the ADC.

“Now this could have gone in very well harmoniously. But with the situation, it is apparent that the ADC leadership and ADC group is now deliberately trying to frustrate the registration of ADA.

“If they had allowed us to fight it out with INEC and get it done without them coming in to interfere and put a clog in our wheel of progress, then we will say, okay, at the end of the day, we will cooperate.

“But now, having come up with doing this thing, why should we cooperate with them?”

Ardo’s comments point to widening strains inside opposition circles over coalition strategy, party identity and registration tactics. The dispute also raises fresh questions about whether parallel platforms can be coordinated without internal resistance before major electoral contests.

As of the interview, no formal response from ADC leaders was included in Ardo’s remarks, but his claims suggest that negotiations among opposition actors are becoming harder as registration and alliance decisions move closer to centre stage.