A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise and publish the list of candidates submitted by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under the leadership of David Mark ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections scheduled for February 21.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, January 20, Justice Mohammed Umar ruled that there was sufficient evidence showing the ADC complied with all legal requirements for its candidates to be included in the poll. The court held that INEC’s refusal to grant electronic access for candidate uploads was unlawful.
The suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1907/25) was filed by 17 ADC candidates, who challenged INEC’s denial of portal access following the party’s substitution primaries. Justice Umar directed INEC to:
• Recognise and publish the ADC candidates’ names, and
• Grant electronic access for uploading Forms EC9 and EC13, relying on Sections 29(1), 31, 33 and 84(1)(5)(6) of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC guidelines.
The affected candidates include Jafaru Shaibu, Ayenajeyi Yakubu, Dauda Awode, Ezra Zaki, Sunday Abraham, Ayuba Adam, Jamilu Kabiru, Nuhu Madaki, Ibrahim Ali, Ogwuche Linus, Chibuike Anyika, Okechukwu Ironkwe, Godwin Adoga, Agada John, Onuoha Goodness, Mahrazu Bichi, and Tobias Obechina.
In an affidavit, one of the plaintiffs, Onuoha Goodness, told the court that the candidates emerged from substitution primaries conducted after earlier aspirants withdrew before the August 11, 2025 deadline. He said ADC’s attempts to upload the candidates failed because INEC allegedly did not recognise the signatures of the party’s current National Chairman and National Secretary.
With the ruling, the court granted all consequential reliefs, compelling INEC to provide portal access and publish the candidates’ names ahead of the February poll.
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