Federal High Court Mandates INEC to Accept ADC Candidate List for FCT Elections
In a significant legal development, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a definitive order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to officially recognize and publish the names of candidates submitted by the Senator David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). This directive pertains specifically to the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, which are scheduled to take place on February 21, 2026.
Judicial Ruling Upholds ADC's Legal Compliance
Presiding over the case, Justice Mohammed Umar delivered the judgment on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. In his ruling, Justice Umar emphatically stated that there was "sufficient evidence to establish that the ADC fulfilled all the legal requirements" necessary for the inclusion of its candidates in the electoral process. This judicial pronouncement effectively validates the party's adherence to electoral statutes and guidelines.
The court case, identified as suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1907/25, was initiated by a group of seventeen ADC candidates. These individuals had legally challenged INEC's refusal to grant them electronic access to participate as contestants for various elective positions within the FCT Area Councils.
Court Finds INEC's Position Unjustified
Justice Umar, in his detailed assessment, found that the plaintiffs had "adduced credible evidence and proved the case against INEC beyond a reasonable doubt." Consequently, the court issued a clear mandate, ordering the electoral commission to not only recognize but also publicly publish the names of these candidates as the official ADC representatives for the positions they contested during the party's substitution primary.
Furthermore, the court directed INEC to grant the African Democratic Congress the necessary electronic access to upload the candidates' names onto its official portal. This order is firmly grounded in specific provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act, namely Sections 29(1), 31, 33, and 84(1)(5)(6), as well as the established Election Guidelines issued by INEC itself.
List of Affected ADC Candidates
The court explicitly listed the seventeen candidates who are beneficiaries of this ruling. They are:
- 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
- Tobias Obechina
Background of the Legal Dispute
The genesis of this legal confrontation is detailed in a comprehensive 27-paragraph affidavit submitted by one of the plaintiffs, Onuoha Goodness. According to the affidavit, the candidates participated in the ADC's substitution primaries. This process was necessitated by the withdrawal of earlier candidates, and it was completed well before the official deadline of August 11, 2025.
Goodness informed the court that following their successful emergence from the primaries, the party attempted to upload the mandatory Forms EC9 and EC13 to the INEC portal. However, they "could not get access to do so," creating a significant impediment to their participation in the elections.
INEC's Access Denial and Technical Impasse
The plaintiffs presented evidence of correspondence between ADC's ICT staff and INEC's technical personnel. This communication revealed that the core issue stemmed from a substitution notification letter sent from the ADC to INEC. The problem was that the access code initially provided to the ADC through its former National Chairman could not be utilized by the current leadership under Senator David Mark.
This technical impasse occurred because INEC's system did not recognize the digital signatures of the current National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and the National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. The plaintiffs argued that a subsequent formal letter requesting upload access was also rejected by the commission.
They contended that "INEC is hell-bent on denying ADC access to upload our names on the INEC portal," prompting them to seek judicial intervention. The central question for the court was whether, under the Electoral Act and INEC's own guidelines, the commission was legally obligated to grant the party electronic access to upload the names of candidates who legitimately emerged from its substitution primary for the 2026 FCT Area Council elections.
Court Grants Full Relief to Plaintiffs
With the matter now conclusively resolved in favor of the ADC candidates, the Federal High Court granted all the consequential reliefs sought by the plaintiffs. This comprehensive ruling legally compels INEC to provide the necessary electronic access and to proceed with the publication of the candidates' names ahead of the critical February poll. This decision ensures that the democratic process within the Federal Capital Territory proceeds with the full participation of all legally qualified candidates.
