ABUJA, Nigeria — A coalition of opposition figures led by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State governor Nasir el-Rufai has applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the registration of a new political party, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The formal application, dated Thursday, June 19, 2025, was submitted to INEC and acknowledged by the commission’s chairman’s office on Friday, June 20, 2025, according to documents seen by The Trent.
The letter, titled “Application for registration as a political party,” was co-signed by Akin Ricketts, named as the national chairman of the ADA, and Abdullahi Musa Elayo, serving as protem national secretary.
“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 stated.
“This is sequel to the decision taken by the Nigerian National Coalition Group to sponsor our association for full registration,” the document added.
The coalition disclosed that the party’s acronym will be ADA, and its slogan is “Justice for All.”
Attached to the application were the party’s manifesto and constitution, which the organisers said outline the ADA’s ideology, internal structures, and organisational framework.
The development comes amid renewed realignments in Nigeria’s political landscape, with increasing attention on potential challengers to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
While neither Atiku nor el-Rufai has made a formal statement on the application, their visible roles in the coalition are widely interpreted as a strategic move to consolidate opposition efforts into a unified platform.
INEC has yet to issue an official response on the registration process or timeline. Under Nigeria’s Electoral Act, political associations seeking registration must meet specific criteria, including nationwide spread, constitutional compliance, and proof of membership across states.
