The founder and national leader of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) has dismissed criticism from Dr Umar Ardo, saying the party’s registration came after a legal fight with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
In a statement, he described Ardo as a long-time friend and political ally, but said the attacks on the NDC were “misguided” and “shocking.”
He said the party’s application started in 2017, but the process slowed when INEC stopped fresh party registrations under Professor Mahmood Yakubu. According to him, the file was revived last year after the commission reopened the process for new associations.
The NDC leader said INEC later rejected the party over its logo, which the commission said was too close to the APC broom symbol. He said the party challenged the decision in court, won, and secured a ruling that ordered INEC to register it.
He added that INEC has since issued the party a certificate of registration, attended its first National Executive Committee meeting, and collected dates for its congresses and primaries.
According to him, the matter is now settled. He said INEC did not appeal the judgment and had already implemented it.
He also pointed out that the NDP was registered in a similar way after a court order.
On Ardo, he said the criticism should not be linked to the NDC, adding that any problems around Ardo’s own political platform are separate from the NDC’s case.