The first courtroom battle for 2027 just landed. And it’s about who even gets to contest.
Ahidjo Ibrahim Karlahi, a director of the All Democratic Alliance ADA, has dragged INEC to the Federal High Court, Abuja. He’s asking the court to cancel the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC as a political party.
Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1115/2026, filed June 2, 2026. NDC is listed as 2nd respondent.
–‘The core allegation: INEC ignored its own rules–
Karlahi’s argument is blunt: INEC had a duty to enforce the Constitution, Electoral Act 2022, and its own “Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties Registration 2022”. He says the commission failed woefully.
“Whether INEC has not gravely failed to ensure compliance… when it registered NDC as a political party in total disregard, neglect and without compliance and outright disobedience to these provisions,” the suit reads.
ADA claims NDC jumped the queue. If the court agrees, NDC’s registration becomes “unconstitutional, wrongful, null, and void”.
—What Karlahi wants from the court:–
1. Declare NDC’s registration illegal due to non-compliance with 1999 Constitution and Electoral Act
2. Order INEC to “protect, preserve and defend” its guidelines by reversing NDC’s registration
3. Interrogate INEC’s “executive and administrative action” in registering the party
–Why this matters for 2027–
INEC has been under pressure to open the political space.
Dozens of associations are seeking party status ahead of 2027.
ADA itself is a political association waiting in the wings.
If the court nullifies NDC, it sets a precedent: INEC can’t bend registration rules, no matter the pressure.
If the court dismisses it, INEC gets legal backing that its process was clean.
Either way, June 2 filing just became the first test case for “fair registration” before 2027 campaigns start.
The judge’s gavel could decide which new logos appear on ballot papers.
