A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the list of candidates submitted by the Senator David Mark–led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the February 21 Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Justice Mohammed Umar gave the order on Tuesday while delivering judgment in a suit instituted by 17 ADC candidates who challenged INEC’s refusal to grant them electronic access to upload their particulars for the election.

In the judgment delivered in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1907/25, the court held that the plaintiffs presented credible and convincing evidence to justify the reliefs sought. Justice Umar noted that the claimants proved their case beyond reasonable doubt and were therefore entitled to the orders of the court.

The judge consequently directed INEC to recognise and publish the names of the plaintiffs as duly nominated ADC candidates for the various positions they contested during the party’s substitution primary ahead of the 2026 FCT Area Council polls.

He further ordered the electoral body to grant ADC electronic access to upload the candidates’ details on its portal in line with Sections 29(1), 31, 33 and 84(1)(5)(6) of the Electoral Act 2022 as well as INEC’s election guidelines.

Those affected by the judgment include Jafaru Shaibu, Ayenajeyi Yakubu, Dauda Awode, Ezra Zaki, Sunday Abraham, Ayuba Adam, Jamilu Kabiru, Nuhu Madaki, Ibrahim Aliyu and Ogwuche Linus.

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

The plaintiffs had dragged INEC to court after the commission allegedly denied ADC access to upload their names as candidates for the forthcoming election.

In a 27–paragraph affidavit deposed to by one of the plaintiffs, Onuoha Goodness, they stated that the first to 16th plaintiffs emerged from a substitution primary conducted following the withdrawal of candidates earlier nominated by the party.

She explained that efforts by ADC to upload Forms EC9 and EC13 on INEC’s portal were frustrated due to access restrictions. According to her, correspondence between ADC and INEC ICT departments revealed that the access code earlier issued to the party could not be used by the current national leadership because INEC claimed it did not recognise the signatures of Senator David Mark and National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

The plaintiffs also alleged that INEC refused to receive a letter from their counsel, Kalu Agu, requesting access to the portal, insisting that the commission was determined to shut them out of the electoral process.

Among the issues submitted for determination was whether, under the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines, the commission was obligated to grant ADC electronic access to upload the names of its candidates for the FCT polls.

They prayed the court to compel INEC to provide such access and to publish their names as ADC candidates for the February 21 election — a request the court granted in full.