The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been directed by the Federal High Court in Abuja to register and acknowledge the Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA) as a Nigerian political party.
Judge Obiora Egwuatu issued the directive on Tuesday while rendering a decision in a lawsuit filed against INEC by Tamunotonye Samuel Solomon Inioribo and two other parties under the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/2787/25.
According to Naija News, Egwuatu gave INEC seven days to provide the CDA with a certificate of registration.
In October 2025, INEC declared that CDA and seven other associations out of 14 pre-qualified associations for political party registration had successfully uploaded all required data and supporting paperwork.
CDA, All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Abundance Social Party (ASP), African Alliance Party (AAP), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Green Future Party (GFP), National Democratic Party (NDP), and Peoples Freedom Party (PFP) were the affiliations.
Additionally, the electoral umpire affirmed that the eight associations would move on to the next round, which entails a thorough evaluation and confirmation of the data and records each group has submitted.
But in December 2025, INEC declared that CDA’s application had been rejected.
Only two of the eight were “qualified for the final assessment and verification of due compliance with the constitution and the Electoral Act,” according to INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan on February 5, 2026.
According to Amupitan, only the DLA was registered by the commission and satisfied all legal requirements following the final examination.
Despite not being a member of the pre-qualified associations, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) was subsequently registered by the commission.
The claimants, unhappy with the outcome, went to court to contest the validity of INEC’s ruling.
The claimant said that CDA met all legal and constitutional registration criteria.
On Tuesday, the court upheld CDA’s position and mandated that INEC register it as a political party in advance of the 2027 elections.
