A Federal High Cour sitting in Abuja has ruled that there is no faction within the (ADC) and has ordered the (INEC) to publish and recognise candidates submitted by the party under the leadership of for the forthcoming February 21 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Delivering judgment on Tuesday in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1907/25, Justice Mohammed Umar ruled in favour of 17 ADC candidates who challenged INEC’s refusal to grant them electronic access to upload their particulars on the commission’s portal—an action that effectively excluded them from the polls.
Justice Umar held that the evidence presented by the plaintiffs was credible and compelling, noting that they had “proved their case beyond reasonable doubt.” He consequently directed INEC to recognise and publish the names of the claimants as ADC candidates for the respective offices contested during the party’s substitution primary election.
The court further ordered that the candidates’ details be uploaded on INEC’s portal in strict compliance with Sections 29(1), 31, 33, and 84(1)(5)(6) of the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as INEC’s Election Guidelines.
Those ordered to be listed include: 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.
The suit arose after INEC denied ADC access to upload candidates’ particulars from the party’s substitution primaries, citing alleged non-recognition of the signatures of the party’s current leadership—specifically those of Senator David Mark, National Chairman, and , National Secretary.
In a 27-paragraph affidavit, one of the plaintiffs, Onuoha Goodness, told the court that repeated attempts and formal requests to secure access were rebuffed, with INEC officials citing discrepancies in the substitution notification letter and signature recognition. He added that efforts to upload Forms EC9 and EC13 failed because access codes linked to the former national chairman were rendered invalid following the leadership change.
The court was asked to determine whether, under the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines, the commission is legally obligated to provide ADC with electronic access to upload candidates’ names for the FCT Area Council elections.
With Tuesday’s ruling, INEC is now compelled to facilitate ADC’s participation by publishing the candidates’ names ahead of the polls, effectively clearing the way for the party’s full involvement in the FCT elections.
