AAP hails court judgment ordering INEC to register party

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

 

The African Alliance Party (AAP) has commended the judiciary over a Court of Appeal judgment declaring it a legally registered political party.

 

The party also welcomed the court’s directive ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue it a certificate of registration without delay.

 

The AAP National Chairman, Rev. Olusegun Peters, said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja that the judgment was a major victory for the rule of law.

 

He added that it would strengthen Nigeria’s multi-party democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

Peters said the judgment, delivered by the Court of Appeal, Makurdi Judicial Division, in Appeal No. CA/MK/102/2026, arose from a suit filed by him against INEC, its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), and its Secretary, Dr Rose Oriarian-Anthony.

 

According to him, the judgment was delivered by a three-member panel comprising Justice A.A. Wambai, Justice I.B. Gafai and Justice Abdul-Azeez Waziri, who read the lead judgment on behalf of the unanimous panel.

 

He said the court held that the AAP was deemed duly registered by operation of law because INEC failed to challenge or object to the party’s eligibility within the constitutionally prescribed 60-day period for political party registration.

 

According to Peters, the court found that INEC’s failure to act within the statutory period barred it from raising objections later, thereby entitling the party to registration as a constitutional right.

 

He praised the judiciary for upholding democratic principles.

 

“This judgment reinforces the principle that constitutional timelines imposed on regulatory authorities are mandatory and not merely advisory.

 

“The judiciary has once again affirmed that administrative silence or inaction cannot be used to frustrate eligible political associations or deny them their constitutional rights,” he said.

 

Peters, however, urged INEC to comply promptly with the judgment to avoid disrupting the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.

 

He noted that the legal dispute had already prevented the party from participating in some preliminary electoral activities.

 

“Time is of the essence. In line with the spirit of the judgment, we urge INEC to immediately issue our certificate of registration to enable the AAP to fully integrate into the electoral process, submit its updated membership register and conduct its primaries,” he said.

 

He added that prompt compliance would ensure that the party’s members across the country were not disenfranchised and would allow the AAP to meet the electoral timetable.

 

Peters expressed appreciation to the party’s legal team from Everlaw Associates, led by O. Marx Ikongbeh, as well as its supporters nationwide for their steadfastness.

 

He said the party remained committed to providing Nigerians with a credible alternative in the 2027 general elections.

 

The AAP is one of eight associations seeking registration by INEC that successfully uploaded the required documents on the commission’s portal in 2025.

 

The association had maintained that it met the submission deadline and satisfied all requirements stipulated in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

 

OBE/TAK

 

Edited by Tosin Kolade