Umar Ardo, promoter of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), has remained steadfast in his stand against the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), saying his position has nothing to do with key political figures such as Peter Obi or Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who recently defected to the party, news.ng reports.
Ardo clarified that his concerns with the party started shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) approved the registration of the NDC, noting that questions have been raised regarding the party’s registration process.
Ardo, who appeared on Arise Television on Thursday morning, said he made efforts to reach out to Obi and Kwankwaso regarding their planned defection to the party and warned them about the dangers ahead, but his advice was ignored.
He said, “A day after INEC announced NDC’s registration, I was here; I was opposing it on the 6th of February. So, it is not about Obi whatsoever.
“I communicated to all those who have been close to Obi, telling them to tell him that if they are considering going to another political party, there are other political parties to go in, not NDC, and I sat down with Kwankwaso, and I told him these are the problems that this NDC is facing.”
Ardo noted that despite his warnings, Obi and Kwankwaso’s defection to the NDC has not changed the situation in the party, describing the registration of the NDC as a national fraud.
“But they refused, they went and entered. So, the fact that they entered doesn’t mean that it has changed the situation. The situation is as bad as it has always been,” he said, adding that his only goal was “to stop a national fraud on the country.”
The promoter also criticised INEC and the judiciary for aiding electoral misconduct.
Commenting on the 2023 polls, Ardo said that people’s silence over the outcome of the elections has created a pathway for institutional failures.
He said, “The judiciary has messed up, and INEC refused to appeal to this, and INEC became complicit. We cannot have double standards. We cannot pick and choose what to oppose and what to accept when we know what is wrong is wrong and what is right is right.”
