The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been ordered by the Federal High Court in Abuja to register and recognize Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA) as a political party in Nigeria.
Ruling on a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2787/25, which was filed by Tamunotonye Samuel Solomon Inioribo and two others against INEC on Tuesday, Justice Obiora Egwuatu ordered INEC to issue a certificate of registration to the CDA within seven days.
Recall, INEC had in October 2025, announced that CDA and seven other associations out of 14 pre-qualified associations seeking registration as political parties, had successfully completed the upload of all necessary information and documentation.
The electoral umpire also confirmed that the eight associations would proceed to the next stage, which is the detailed assessment and verification of the information and documents submitted by each association.
But in what surprised the CDA, INEC announced in December 2025 that CDA’s application was unsuccessful, leading to an announcement on February 5, 2026, by INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, that “only two among which was NDC” of the eight were “qualified for the final assessment and verification of due compliance with the constitution and the Electoral Act.”
Displeased with the development, the claimants approached the court to challenge the legality of INEC’s decision, arguing that CDA complied with all constitutional and statutory requirements for registration.
