Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja, Nigeria — The African Alliance Party (AAP) has formally threatened to pursue legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its exclusion from the list of recognised political parties ahead of the 2027 general election, escalating a dispute that highlights mounting tension within Nigeria’s political landscape. The party alleges that INEC’s refusal to register it, despite meeting statutory and constitutional requirements, amounts to an unlawful and discriminatory act that undermines democratic inclusion.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, the AAP’s National Publicity Secretary, asserted that the party fulfilled “all constitutional and statutory requirements for registration” and was instead “unlawfully excluded” from INEC’s final register of approved parties. The document, titled “Register AAP Now or Face Legal Action,” emphasised that the party intended to seek redress through Nigeria’s judicial system unless the electoral body reverses its decision.
The legal threat comes after INEC’s announcement that only a limited number of political associations out of several applicants had been approved to become registered parties in preparation for the 2027 polls. During a consultative meeting in Abuja earlier this week, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN confirmed that out of 171 political associations that sought registration, only two achieved formal party status — the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the latter of which gained registration through a Federal High Court order.
In its communication, the AAP contends that while it satisfied every legal and administrative criterion as outlined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s own Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022, the commission inexplicably excluded it from the final list of approved parties. The party says this exclusion occurred despite its inclusion in earlier stages of the registration process — including being pre-qualified among a shortlist of 14 associations and being listed among those that successfully completed required documentation uploads.
Sadiq criticised what he described as double standards in the registration process, questioning INEC’s decision to register the NDC, which he claims did not participate in the documented procedures or appear on official platforms during the public phase of the process. He asserted that INEC’s actions have eroded confidence in the electoral body’s integrity and jeopardised public faith in Nigeria’s electoral framework.
“The integrity of INEC is at stake,” Sadiq said in the statement. “Its double standard is glaring in registering a party that did not participate fully in the registration process nor was listed on INEC’s official information platforms. We will challenge this abuse of legal process, INEC’s bias, and the policy somersault in court.”
The AAP’s legal threat underscores broader concerns among political associations that have sought party status in recent months. Earlier stages of the INEC screening process, which began in 2025, saw 171 associations express interest in party registration, of which only 14 were pre-qualified following an initial assessment of compliance with legal requirements. Subsequent documentation stages reportedly reduced that number further, with AAP among those that reportedly met all obligations before the final list was published.
Despite its exclusion from the final list, AAP has urged its members to maintain momentum in grassroots mobilisation as the 2027 elections draw closer. The party also reiterated its confidence in the judiciary, framing its impending court challenge as a defence of democratic space and an assertion of legal rights.
Political analysts note that the dispute highlights enduring tensions over party registration and political pluralism in Nigeria. The incremental and often opaque nature of the registration process has frequently drawn criticism from emerging political movements, which argue that restrictive practices narrow the field of competitive politics and inhibit broader participation outside the dominant parties.
Proponents of INEC’s rigorous vetting process argue that stringent checks are necessary to ensure that political parties meet defined legal and organisational thresholds before being entrusted with contesting Nigeria’s highest offices. The electoral commission has stated in previous communications that party registration is regulated by law and subject to a detailed assessment of applications, with a view to maintaining integrity and adherence to constitutional standards.
INEC has not yet responded publicly to the AAP’s latest statement or detailed its rationale for excluding the party from the final approved list. A formal response from the electoral commission could clarify whether procedural errors occurred or if unresolved technical or administrative issues factored into the decision. Observers say that transparent communication from INEC will be important to dispel speculation and bolster public confidence in the party registration system.
The unfolding disagreement between INEC and AAP is likely to play out in Nigeria’s courts if the party proceeds with its threat to initiate legal proceedings. Given the approaching election timetable, any successful challenge could have implications for the political landscape and the composition of contesting parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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