The National Opposition Coalition Group, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has formally applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the registration of a new political party—the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
The application, dated June 19 and acknowledged by INEC on Friday, signals the coalition’s decision to establish a new political platform rather than align with any existing party. The move ends weeks of speculation over whether the group would revive a dormant party or launch an entirely new one.
Backed by other prominent political figures—including former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Umar Ardo, convener of the League of Northern Democrats and a former aide to President Olusegun Obasanjo—the formation of ADA aims to harness growing public dissatisfaction and capitalize on emerging political realignments ahead of the next general election.
Sources within the coalition suggest the party’s goal is to mount a credible challenge to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The party registration request comes just days after INEC reiterated that no amount of political pressure or public sentiment would override the need for full compliance with constitutional and electoral guidelines. The commission emphasized that the registration of a political party is a constitutionally mandated process—not a mere formality.
A copy of the coalition’s application letter, obtained by our correspondent in Abuja, was jointly signed by Protem National Chairman Chief Akin A. Rickets and Protem National Secretary Abdullahi Elayo.
“We respectfully write to the Independent National Electoral Commission, requesting the registration of our association, the All Democratic Alliance, as a political party,” the letter reads in part. “This is a sequel to the decision taken by the Nigerian National Coalition Group to sponsor our association for full registration.”
The application includes key documents required for registration: the proposed party’s constitution, manifesto, minutes from foundational meetings, and its official logo and slogan.
According to the coalition, the party’s symbol prominently features a maize (corn) motif—chosen to represent abundance, resilience, and sustenance, which the group says are core values it intends to uphold. The party’s slogan will be “Justice for All.”
“Our manifesto outlines our ideological stance and governance vision,” the letter continued. “We have also submitted our constitution, which provides the legal framework defining our identity, organizational structure, and internal governance.”
The application sets the stage for what could be a major shift in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the next election cycle.
