File photo: Independent National Electoral Commission
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to generate and release an access code to the Chief Akin Rickett-led leadership of the All Democratic Alliance to enable the association to continue its registration process as a political party.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment, directed INEC to issue the access code to the association’s Protem Secretary within 72 hours and further ordered the electoral body to reopen its registration portal for one week to allow the upload of the party’s membership register and other statutory documents.
The court held that INEC acted unlawfully by issuing the access code to Umar Ardo, whom it found was neither the recognised Protem National Chairman nor Protem Secretary of the association.
Justice Lifu consequently declared the commission’s decision to release the access code to Ardo illegal, wrongful, null and void.
