Abuja Council Poll: Court Orders Commission To Allow ADC Candidates Upload Data

Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the names of candidates forwarded to it by the chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, in respect of the February 21 Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

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Justice Umar made the order in a judgment he delivered on the suit filed by 17 candidates of the party.

They challenged INEC’s refusal to grant them electronic access to contest elective positions in the forthcoming election.

In his judgment in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1907/25, the court held that the evidence provided by the plaintiffs was credible enough for him to attach a “more probative value”, adding that the plaintiffs also proved their case beyond reasonable doubt to earn the reliefs sought in their originating summons.

He subsequently directed INEC to recognise and publish the names of the plaintiffs as candidates of the ADC for the various positions they contested in the ADC’s substitution primary election, preparatory to the 2026 FCT Area Council elections.

Justice Umar further directed INEC to give the ADC electronic access to upload the names of the plaintiffs as her candidates for the various positions the plaintiffs contested for in the substitution primary election of the ADC preparatory to the 2026 FCT Area Council elections 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 names the judge ordered to be uploaded in INEC’s portal as candidates in the February 21 Area Council elections include: Jafaru Shaibu, Ayenajeyi Yakubu, Dauda Awode, Ezra Zaki, Sunday Abraham, Ayuba Adam, Jamilu Kabiru, Nuhu Madaki, Ibrahim Ali and Ogwuche Linus.

Others are Chibuike Anyika, Okechukwu Ironkwe, Godwin Adoga, Agada John, Onuoha Goodness, Mahrazu Bichi and Tobias Obechina.

They dragged the electoral umpire to court for denying the ADC access to upload their names as ADC candidates in the forthcoming elections.