BY Gloria  Dike

The Umar Ardo-led All Democratic Alliance, ADA, has rejected Monday’s Federal High Court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to release its registration access code to the Chief Akin Ricketts-led faction, insisting the ruling seeks to impose “outsider leadership” on the association.

In a statement on Tuesday, ADA said it has instructed lawyers to file a stay of execution and a notice of appeal, arguing that Ricketts and other promoters had left the association for the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and can no longer act for ADA.

“For clarity, the Court did not order INEC to register the All Democratic Alliance as a political party. Rather, the Court directed INEC to release the registration access code to Chief Akin Ricketts to recommence the registration process,” it said.

ADA said it had formally notified INEC of a leadership change, and the commission had acknowledged it.

“Consequently, the registration process has since been completed by the Prince Uche Secondus- and Dr Umar Ardo-led National Executive Committee,” it stated.

The party warned that implementing the judgment would “recommence a concluded registration process” and “impose outsider leadership.”

“It is not only an abuse of process, but also vexatious and obnoxious. The effect of the judgment, if implemented, is to hand over the ADA to persons who have abandoned the association,” it said.

ADA expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would overturn the decision, noting its substantive appeal is already scheduled for hearing.

On Monday, Justice Peter Lifu ordered INEC to generate and release the registration access code to the Ricketts-led leadership within 72 hours and to reopen its portal for one week to enable the upload of a membership register and other statutory documents.

The judge held that INEC acted unlawfully by issuing the code to Dr Umar Ardo, whom the court said was not the recognised Protem National Chairman or Protem Secretary.

All documents and actions taken by Ardo on the registration were nullified.