A fresh obstacle may be coming the way of the new opposition coalition seeking registration as a political party under the name All Democratic Alliance (ADA), as a rival group has also applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) using the same acronym.
Both groups are currently listed on INEC’s register of pending applications.
While the coalition-backed ADA appears as number 109, the Advanced Democratic Alliance, also using the acronym ADA, is listed as number 110.
The situation may set the stage for a likely rejection of one or both names, in line with INEC’s guidelines which prohibit political associations with similar names, acronyms, or logos to avoid confusion among voters.
This development mirrors the 2013 controversy involving the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) when multiple groups rushed to register similarly named parties in what many viewed as an effort to scuttle the merger.
However both ADA applications differ in logos, addresses, and leadership structures, but, the acronym clash may prove fatal to their ambitions for registration.
The coalition’s ADA is headquartered at the UAC Complex in Abuja, with Chief Akin A. Ricketts listed as chairman and Abdullahi Musa Elayo as protem secretary.
The other group, the Advanced Democratic Alliance, is based in Wuse 2, Abuja, and lists Alhaji Ahmadu Suleiman and Zipporah Pus Miracle as its leaders.
Speaking on the controversy, Umar Ardo, a convener of the coalition-backed ADA, dismissed the challenge, insisting their application came first.
“No problem. We were there before them,” Ardo said.
INEC is yet to issue a formal statement on how it intends to resolve the matter.
