An Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the names of candidates submitted by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the February 21 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Justice Mohammed Umar gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by 17 ADC candidates who challenged INEC’s refusal to grant the party electronic access to upload their candidates’ details for the polls.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1907/25, was instituted following INEC’s alleged failure to recognise the list forwarded by the ADC leadership under its National Chairman, David Mark.
In his ruling, Justice Umar held that the evidence presented by the plaintiffs was credible and deserving of probative value, noting that the claimants had successfully established their case.
“The evidence provided by the plaintiffs was credible enough for the court to attach a more probative value,” the judge ruled, granting all the reliefs sought.
The court consequently ordered INEC to recognise and publish the names of the plaintiffs as ADC candidates for the various positions they contested in the party’s substitution primary election ahead of the 2026 FCT Area Council polls.
Justice Umar also directed INEC to grant the ADC electronic access to upload the candidates’ names on its portal, relying on Sections 29(1), 31, 33 and 84(1)(5)(6) of the Electoral Act 2022, as well as INEC’s election guidelines.
Candidates listed for upload include Jafaru Shaibu, Ayenajeyi Yakubu, Dauda Awode, Ezra Zaki, Sunday Abraham, Ayuba Adam, Jamilu Kabiru, Nuhu Madaki, Ibrahim Aliyu, Ogwuche Linus, Chibuike Anyika, Okechukwu Ironkwe, Godwin Adoga, Agada John, Onuoha Goodness, Mahrazu Bichi, and Tobias Obechina.
The plaintiffs approached the court after INEC allegedly denied the ADC access to upload their names for the forthcoming elections, citing issues related to leadership recognition and substitution documentation.
Having resolved all issues in favour of the plaintiffs, the court ordered INEC to immediately grant the required access and publish the candidates’ names accordingly.
