Promoter of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Umar Ardo, has revealed that he warned former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, against aligning with the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), insisting that the party’s legal status remains questionable.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Ardo maintained that the legal dispute surrounding the NDC had not been conclusively resolved, despite a recent Federal High Court ruling dismissing his suit.
According to him, the court dismissed the matter on a preliminary objection rather than on its substantive merit.
“On Wednesday, the Federal High Court dismissed our case on the basis of a preliminary objection raised by those two guys who joined us — that we ought to have come through writ of summons and not originating summons,” he said.
Ardo disclosed that his legal team would obtain the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment and likely challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
“We are going to look at it and then decide whether to test its veracity at the Appeal Court. Most likely, we are going to do so. I would like to finish what I start. I think we will go up to the Supreme Court,” he stated.
The ADA promoter insisted that his opposition to the NDC was personal and not the official position of his political association.
“My opposition to NDC is not on behalf of ADA,” he clarified, adding that his actions were based on alleged irregularities discovered during ADA’s own registration process.
Ardo accused the NDC of failing to comply fully with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) requirements for political party registration.
According to him, INEC had initially rejected the party’s logo because it allegedly resembled those of existing political parties and associations.
He further claimed that the NDC failed to complete critical registration procedures, including submission of Form EC15A, payment of required fees, and uploading essential party documents.
“NDC did not pay. NDC did not fill that form. NDC did not do anything,” he alleged.
Ardo also faulted INEC for allegedly failing to challenge what he described as an erroneous court judgment recognising the party.
Responding to claims that his actions were aimed at undermining opposition politics or targeting Obi and Kwankwaso, Ardo denied any personal motive.
“What is my business with Obi? What is my business with Kwankwaso? I have no motive whatsoever other than to stop a national fraud on the country,” he said.
