ABUJA — The All Democratic Alliance (ADA) has distanced itself from recent comments by its National Secretary, Dr Umar Ardo, who questioned the registration of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a press statement dated May 4, 2026, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon Leye Igbabo, said Ardo spoke in his personal capacity and that his views “do not represent the official position of the ADA as a party.”
“The NDC is today a duly registered political party by INEC and remains the only viable alternative platform currently available to Nigerians who are thoroughly disillusioned with the ruling party and the crisis-ridden PDP,” the statement read.
ADA, which has not yet been fully registered, called for restraint among opposition parties, warning against attacking the legitimacy of other political platforms.
“As democrats, we cannot be seen to be pulling down the only standing opposition house while we are still building our own,” Igbabo said.
“Until we are fully done with our registration, we must not create the impression that we seek to delegitimize platforms that give Nigerians choice.”
The party said it would continue to lawfully engage INEC and the courts to secure its registration but would not do so by attacking other opposition parties.
“The 2027 election is too important for opposition voices to cannibalise one another,” the statement added.
The party assured the NDC that it bears no ill will and looked forward to “robust opposition collaboration post-2027, when hopefully, more platforms including ADA will be on the ballot.”
“The enemy of Nigeria’s democracy is not NDC. The enemy is one-party rule,” Igbabo concluded.
