Atiku, El-Rufai David Mark, opposition coalition seeks INEC registration for new party, ADA
The National Opposition Coalition Group, has formally applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the registration of a new political party, the All Democratic Alliance, ADA.
The opposition coalition is led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The coalition’s application dated June 19, was acknowledged by INEC on Friday.
This indicates the intentions of the coalition to float a new platform.
The formation of ADA, backed by some other key political heavyweights, including former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Umar Ardo, convener of the League of Northern Democrats and former aide to President Olusegun Obasanjo, seeks to capitalise on mounting public dissatisfaction and political realignments to stop President Bola Tinubu at the next poll.
The application comes just a few days after INEC warned political groups that no amount of pressure or public sentiment would override the need for strict compliance with constitutional and electoral guidelines.
The application letter was jointly signed by the association’s Protem National Chairman, Chief Akin A. Rickets, and Protem National Secretary, Abdullahi Elayo.
The letter partly read, “We respectfully write to the Independent National Electoral Commission, requesting the registration of our association, the All Democratic Alliance, as a political party.
“This is a sequel to the decision taken by the Nigerian National Coalition Group to sponsor our association for full registration.
“The name of the party shall be All Democratic Alliance with ADA as our acronym and ‘Justice for All’ as our slogan.”
The coalition also submitted relevant documents, including the party’s constitution, manifesto, logo, and minutes of its foundational meetings.
The party’s symbol prominently features a maize (corn), which the applicants say represents abundance, resilience, and sustenance, core ideals they hope to promote.
“We have further attached our manifesto encompassing details of our party ideology and our constitution providing the legal framework that defines our identity, structures, and organisation,” the letter continued
Chief Akin A. Ricketts and Abdullahi Musa Elayo have been respectively named the interim Chairman and interim National Secretary of the newly set up coalition party All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
The National Opposition Coalition Group which held a meeting in Abuja said the platform had set up a 15-man committee which has come up with a political party name for registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
In an extract from the meeting and made available to the media, the meeting was chaired by Former Senate President, Senator David Mark.
The meeting in its resolution for further action approved the formation of a political association named All Democratic Alliance.
It also approved the conversion of the political association into a political party named All Democratic Alliance.
To achieve the aim of the association becoming a political party, the meeting also “approved that the association apply to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registration as a
political party by its name – as the All Democratic Alliance (ADA)”.
It also approved the Party’s Logo and Motto as well as a constitution to guide its operations.
The task of the 15-man committee which has Rt. Hon. Chibudwe Rotimi Amaechi as Chairman, New Platform Committee and Dr. Umar Ardo as Secretary of the New Platform Committee would be among other things to secure a befitting office accommodation and get a bank account for the party.
The opposition coalition formed ADA to capitalise on mounting public dissatisfaction and political realignments to stop President Bola Tinubu ahead of 2027 general elections.
The party, Salient Times gathered, is backed by some other key political heavyweights, including former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Umar Ardo, convener of the League of Northern Democrats and former aide to President Olusegun Obasanjo.
