A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the names of candidates submitted by the Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, for the February 21, 2026 Area Councils election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Justice Mohammed Umar gave the order on Tuesday while delivering judgment in a suit filed by 17 candidates of the ADC who challenged INEC’s refusal to grant the party electronic access to upload their details for the forthcoming elections.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1907/25, was instituted by the candidates following INEC’s alleged failure to recognise their nomination and refusal to allow ADC upload their names on its nomination portal.
In his judgment, Justice Umar held that the plaintiffs had sufficiently proved their case and that the evidence before the court was credible and compelling.
He subsequently ordered INEC to recognise and publish the names of the plaintiffs as duly nominated candidates of the ADC for the various positions they contested in the party’s substitution primary election ahead of the 2026 FCT Area Council polls.
The court further directed INEC to grant ADC electronic access to upload the names of the plaintiffs on its portal in line with Sections 29(1), 31, 33 and 84(1), (5) and (6) of the 2022 Electoral Act and INEC Election Guidelines.
The candidates ordered to be uploaded on INEC’s portal 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 had dragged INEC to court over its refusal to grant ADC access to upload their names as candidates for the February 21 Area Councils election.
In a 27-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one of the plaintiffs, Onuoha Goodness, the candidates stated that they participated in the party’s substitution primary election following the withdrawal of candidates who emerged from the main primary conducted earlier.
She explained that after their emergence, the party made efforts to upload their nomination forms (EC9 and EC13) on INEC’s portal but was denied access.
According to her, correspondence between ADC and INEC ICT departments revealed that INEC declined to grant access because it allegedly did not recognise the signatures of the party’s current National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
The plaintiffs further stated that despite writing to INEC to resolve the matter, the commission refused to accept a letter from their lawyer, Kalu Agu.
They therefore approached the court, seeking an order compelling INEC to grant ADC electronic access and publish their names as candidates for the forthcoming elections.
Justice Umar upheld their claims and granted all the reliefs sought.
