By John Moses
Political analyst and former national secretary of the Northern Elders Forum, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has voiced scepticism about the chances of a newly proposed political party, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), being registered by Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC.
Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise News Channel on Monday, Baba-Ahmed cautioned that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is unlikely to grant the party registration, despite growing support from high-profile politicians.
“Unless a miracle happens, I don’t see this application succeeding,” Baba-Ahmed remarked, noting that numerous other applications have long awaited INEC’s attention without approval.
He warned that if INEC prioritised the ADA due to its backing by notable political figures, it would risk accusations of bias. “INEC must maintain its credibility. Nigerians will not be impressed if it appears the electoral commission is favouring big names,” he said.
The ADA has emerged as a potential new political force, with its formation driven by the Nigerian National Coalition Group (NNCG)—a political alliance that reportedly includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-governors Nasir El-Rufai and Rotimi Amaechi, and northern political strategist Dr Umar Ardo.
Following months of consultations, the group submitted an application to INEC on 19 June 2025, seeking registration under the party name All Democratic Alliance, with the acronym ADA and the slogan “Justice for All.”
Dr Baba-Ahmed acknowledged the coalition’s desire to create a neutral political platform where no figure dominates, but stressed the legal and procedural hurdles in forming a party from scratch. “The idea of starting fresh to give everyone equal footing is idealistic, but extremely complex in practice,” he noted.
He concluded that INEC, if under pressure to register ADA, should avoid favouritism. “If they register ADA, they must also register other pending applications. Cherry-picking is not an option under electoral law,” he added.
