Court Affirms African Alliance Party's Registration Status

The Makurdi Division of the Court has ruled that the African Alliance Party (AAP) is legally registered as a political party in Nigeria. The judgment, delivered in appeal No.

CA/MK/102/26, was in response to a challenge by the AAP against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The court found that INEC failed to act within the constitutionally prescribed 90-day window for political party registration, thus entitling AAP to be treated as a registered political party.

The court ordered INEC to issue the certificate of registration to AAP without further delay. This ruling reinforces the principle that regulatory authorities must adhere to timelines and cannot deny eligible political associations their right to register.

The judgment is significant as it upholds the rule of law within Nigeria's multiparty democracy framework ahead of the 2027 general elections, amidst ongoing suits seeking to deregister opposition political parties.