Nigeria Locked from Within: El-Rufai Casts Doubt on INEC’s Willingness to Register New Party

Ex-Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai said on June 23 that opposition leaders fear INEC, under Mahmood Yakubu, may block the registration of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), a new coalition party. The remark, made during an Arise TV interview, deepened scepticism about whether political space is truly open or locked from within.

• El-Rufai warned that under INEC’s current leadership, new party registrations for the opposition may be impossible.
• ADA, backed by Atiku and El-Rufai, is the latest coalition effort ahead of the 2027 elections.
• He compared Yakubu unfavourably to ex-INEC chief Jega, who oversaw the APC’s formation.
• Despite the ADA, El-Rufai says the SDP is a stronger symbolic platform for unity.

Locked from within isn’t just a feeling, it’s a structure. El-Rufai’s remarks point to a democratic system whose doors appear open but are bolted by gatekeepers who decide who gets a voice. In Nigeria, access is not promised; it’s managed.

Sources: Arise TV