A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to generate and release the access code for the registration of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) to the Chief Akin Ricketts-led leadership of the association.

Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgment delivered on Monday, directed INEC to release the access code to the association’s protem secretary within 72 hours.

The court held that the commission acted unlawfully by issuing the access code to Umar Ardo, who it found was neither the recognised protem national chairman nor the protem secretary of the association.

Justice Lifu declared the issuance of the code to Ardo, as well as all actions taken by him on behalf of ADA, null and void.

The court also ordered INEC to reopen its registration portal for one week to allow the plaintiff upload the association’s required documents, including its membership register.

The suit was filed by the plaintiff through his counsel, Stephen Atabo, after INEC allegedly refused to issue the access code needed to complete the party registration process.

The plaintiff argued that the commission violated the law by recognising Umar Ardo instead of the leadership headed by Chief Akin Ricketts and asked the court to invalidate all information Ardo had uploaded on behalf of the association.

In addition to seeking the release of the access code, the plaintiff asked the court to compel INEC to register ADA as a political party, issue its certificate of registration, and extend the deadlines for the submission of its digital membership register and other registration requirements.

After considering the arguments of both parties, Justice Lifu ruled in favour of the plaintiff, holding that Umar Ardo had no legal authority to act on behalf of the association.