A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize and publish the names of candidates submitted by the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections slated for February 21.Entertainment center

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, January 20, Justice Mohammed Umar held that there was “sufficient evidence to establish that the ADC fulfilled all the legal requirements to warrant the inclusion of its candidates in the election.” The ruling followed suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1907/25 filed by 17 ADC candidates who challenged INEC’s refusal to grant them electronic access to participate as contestants in various elective positions.

Justice Umar found that the plaintiffs “adduced credible evidence and proved the case against INEC beyond a reasonable doubt,” and directed the electoral commission to recognize and publish their names as ADC candidates for the positions contested during the substitution primary. He also ordered INEC to grant the party electronic access to upload the candidates’ names “by virtue of Sections 29(1), 31, 33 and 84(1)(5)(6) of the 2022 Electoral Act and the Election Guidelines of INEC.”

The court listed the affected candidates as 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 a 27-paragraph affidavit, one of the plaintiffs, Onuoha Goodness, said they took part in ADC’s substitution primaries following the withdrawal of earlier candidates before the August 11, 2025 deadline. He told the court that the party later attempted to upload their Forms EC9 and EC13 but “could not get access to do so.”

According to them, correspondence between ADC ICT staff and INEC ICT personnel showed that “the substitution notification letter from ADC to INEC was the issue as the access code given to ADC through her former National Chairman could not be used by the current National Chairman of the ADC since INEC did not recognize the signatures of the current National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC, that is Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.”

The plaintiffs added that a subsequent letter asking INEC for upload access was rejected, claiming “INEC is hell-bent on denying ADC access to upload our names on the INEC portal.” They asked the court to determine whether INEC, under the Electoral Act and its guidelines, must allow the party electronic access to upload the names of candidates who emerged from its substitution primary for the 2026 FCT Area Council elections.

With the matter resolved in their favor, the court granted all consequential reliefs, compelling INEC to provide access and publish the names ahead of the February poll.