RismadarVoice Reporters
January 21, 2026
The Federal High Court, Abuja, 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.
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 details for the elections.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1907/25, was instituted following INEC’s failure to recognise the list of candidates forwarded by the ADC leadership under its National Chairman, Senator David Mark.
Court’s Decision:
In his judgment, Justice Umar held that the evidence presented by the plaintiffs was credible and deserving of probative value, adding that the claimants had sufficiently proved their case.
“The evidence provided by the plaintiffs is credible and entitled to more probative value,” the judge held, granting all the reliefs sought in the originating summons.
Consequently, the court 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.
The judge further directed INEC to grant the ADC electronic access to its portal to upload the candidates’ names, 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 Affected:
Justice Umar ordered that the following candidates be uploaded and recognised by INEC:
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.
Background of the Suit:
The plaintiffs approached the court after INEC allegedly denied the ADC access to upload their names as candidates for the forthcoming elections.
In a 27-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one of the plaintiffs, Onuoha Goodness, the claimants stated that the 1st to 16th plaintiffs participated in the ADC primary election following the withdrawal of candidates whose names had earlier been uploaded on the party’s portal before the August 11, 2025 deadline.
She added that the 17th plaintiff was nominated as the ADC vice-chairmanship candidate for the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
According to her, despite their emergence, the party was unable to upload their details on the INEC portal.
“After our emergence, ADC made efforts to upload our Forms EC9 and EC13 on the INEC portal but could not gain access,” she stated.
She further explained that correspondence between the ICT departments of both bodies revealed that the issue stemmed from INEC’s refusal to recognise the signatures of the ADC’s current National Chairman and National Secretary, Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, respectively.
The plaintiffs also told the court that INEC declined to accept a letter written by their counsel, Kalu Agu, requesting access to enable the party upload the candidates’ names.
“INEC is hell-bent on denying ADC access to upload our names on the INEC portal,” they submitted.
Final Orders:
One of the key issues for determination, the court noted, was whether INEC was obligated under the Electoral Act and its guidelines to grant ADC electronic access to upload the names of its candidates.
Having resolved the issue in favour of the plaintiffs, Justice Umar ordered INEC to grant the required access and publish the names of the candidates for the February 21 Area Council elections accordingly.
