Court Orders INEC to Publish ADC Candidates for FCT Area Council Elections
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish the names of candidates presented by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the forthcoming February 21, 2026 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
Delivering judgment in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1907/25, Justice Mohammed Umar held that the plaintiffs, 17 ADC candidates, had successfully established their case against INEC’s refusal to grant the party electronic access to upload candidate details on the commission’s portal.
Justice Umar noted that the evidence adduced by the claimants was credible and merited judicial weight, adding that they had proved their case beyond reasonable doubt. Consequently, the court granted all the reliefs sought in the originating summons.
The judge ordered INEC to recognise and publish the names of the plaintiffs as ADC candidates who emerged from the party’s substitution primaries.
The court further grant the ADC electronic access to upload the candidates’ details on INEC’s portal.
The ruling was anchored on Sections 29(1), 31, 33, and 84(1)(5)(6) of the Electoral Act 2022, alongside INEC’s election guidelines.
The court listed candidates to be uploaded include: Jafaru Shaibu, Ayenajeyi Yakubu, Dauda Awode, Ezra Zaki, Sunday Abraham, Ayuba Adam, Jamilu Kabiru, Nuhu Madaki, Ibrahim Aliyu, and Ogwuche Linus.
Others are 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 following the withdrawal of earlier candidates before the August 11, 2025 deadline.
In a 27-paragraph affidavit sworn by Onuoha Goodness, it was deposed that the 1st to 16th plaintiffs participated in the ADC substitution primaries, while the 17th plaintiff was nominated as the party’s vice-chairmanship candidate for the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
The affidavit further explained that INEC’s ICT department rejected the substitution notification letter issued under the current ADC leadership, contending that the access codes provided to the former National Chairman could not be utilised by the present Chairman, Senator David Mark, and National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, whose signatures INEC declined to recognise.
INEC also refused to honour a letter from the plaintiffs’ counsel, Kalu Agu, requesting access for the ADC to upload the candidates’ details.
Justice Umar resolved the central issue in favour of the plaintiffs, holding that under the Electoral Act and INEC’s guidelines, the commission was obliged to grant the ADC electronic access. He therefore ordered INEC to immediately publish the names of the candidates and ensure their participation in the February 21 polls.
