Court orders INEC to publish ADC candidates for FCT elections
A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the names of candidates submitted by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the upcoming Area Council elections. The order follows a suit filed by 17 ADC candidates who challenged INEC’s refusal to grant the party electronic access to upload their details. Justice Mohammed Umar ruled in favor of the candidates, stating that their evidence was credible. The court also instructed INEC to allow ADC electronic access to its portal for uploading candidate names.
What we know
- The court ordered INEC to publish the names of ADC candidates for the February 21 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
- Justice Mohammed Umar delivered the judgment in a suit filed by 17 ADC candidates after INEC denied them electronic access to upload their details.
- The candidates participated in the ADC primary election after the withdrawal of earlier candidates before the August 11, 2025 deadline.
- INEC had refused to recognize the signatures of the current ADC leadership, including Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
- The court directed INEC to grant ADC access to its portal and recognize the plaintiffs as candidates for the 2026 FCT Area Council polls.
