Dare Babalola
Umar Ardo, promoter of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), has refuted allegations that the proposed political party is affiliated with former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
In an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Friday, Ardo dismissed allegations that ADA was sponsored by Obi, labelling them as false and misleading.
He stated that speculation suggests the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been hesitant to register ADA, driven by a perception that Peter Obi is backing the party and plans to join it.
He emphasised that even if Obi were involved, he has the constitutional right as a Nigerian citizen to sponsor a political party.
He explained that ADA’s promoters had fulfilled all legal requirements for registration, yet were disappointed by INEC’s refusal to grant approval.
Ardo said the group had decided to seek legal redress, adding that the matter would be taken to court and, if necessary, to the Supreme Court.
He said, “Yes, time is ticking. Well, one of the allegations that they say, what is going within, you know, milling within the rumor cycle is that ADA is Peter Obi’s own political party, that Peter Obi will be coming back into ADA. And therefore, you know, because of the political undertone of it, ADA should not be registered. This is not true, assuming, without conceding that Peter Obi is behind the ADA, is Peter Obi not any Nigerian? Is he not? Does he not have the right, you know, to sponsor a political party and so on.
“But as I said, it is not about Peter Obi. I have not ever met with Peter Obi. I have not been discussed by anybody discussing Peter Obi on this matter.
“But for us to meet all this and then they (INEC) said no, we will keep quiet. Let the courts determine. That is our position. If the court determines it in good time. You know, we believe that we are going to participate in the election if the court rules in our favor, but if the court does not determine it in our favor, we will take the matter up to the Supreme Court. It really doesn’t matter whether we participate in this election or we do not participate in this election. We just want to prove a point that we have met all the requirements of the law, and for no just reason, INEC refused to register us.”
