A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately grant electronic access and publish the names of 17 candidates of the African Democratic Congress for the February 21 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Mohammed Umar faulted INEC for denying the candidates access to its portal, thereby effectively excluding them from the electoral process.
The court held that the commission’s action was unlawful and contrary to the Electoral Act and its own guidelines.
The suit arose after INEC declined to recognise the list of candidates submitted by the ADC leadership under the leadership of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, citing issues with access codes and signatures following the party’s substitution primaries.
In his ruling, Justice Umar stated that the plaintiffs had proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt, describing the evidence before the court as credible and compelling.
He consequently directed INEC to recognise the candidates produced from the party’s substitution primary election and to upload and publish their names accordingly.
The court further ordered INEC to comply with the relevant provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act and its guidelines by enabling the electronic submission and publication of candidates’ particulars ahead of the polls.
The candidates 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.
With the ruling, INEC is now legally compelled to facilitate ADC’s full participation in the FCT Area Council elections by publishing the candidates’ names without further delay.
