An Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday issued a mandatory order to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the names of candidates submitted by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the February 21 FCT Area Council elections.
Justice Mohammed Umar delivered the ruling in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1907/25, which was initiated by 17 candidates after INEC denied the party the necessary electronic access to upload their credentials.
The legal battle stemmed from the commission’s refusal to acknowledge the leadership of Senator David Mark, the ADC’s national chairman.
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Justice Umar concluded that the evidence was overwhelming, stating that the plaintiffs’ proof was “credible enough for him to attach a ‘more probate value’” and that they had successfully “proved their case beyond reasonable doubt.”
Consequently, the court mandated that INEC recognize the candidates from the party’s substitution primary and grant the ADC electronic portal access, citing several sections of the Electoral Act 2022.
The list of candidates to be uploaded includes 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.
According to a 27-paragraph affidavit from Onuoha Goodness, the party faced a digital blockade after new candidates emerged following the withdrawal of previous nominees. She explained that the ADC “made efforts to upload to our INEC Forms EC9 and EC13 categories to the portal but could not get access to do so.”
The root of the technical lockout was a leadership dispute; the affidavit detailed that “the access code given to ADC through her former National Chairman could not be used by the current National Chairman” because INEC refused to “recognize the signatures of the current National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC, that is Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.”
Despite repeated attempts by legal counsel Kalu Agu to resolve the matter, the plaintiffs argued that “INEC is hell-bent on denying ADC access to upload our names on the INEC portal.”
After determining that INEC was legally obligated to provide this access, Justice Umar ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, ensuring their participation in the upcoming polls.
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