A Federal High Court in Abuja has compelled Nigeria’s electoral body to accept and publish a slate of candidates for the upcoming Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections.
Justice Mohammed Umar issued the order on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize 17 candidates submitted by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under its National Chairman, Senator David Mark.
The candidates had sued INEC after being denied electronic access to upload their nomination forms to the commission’s portal for the February 21 polls. In his judgment on the suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1907/25), Justice Umar ruled the plaintiffs provided credible evidence and proved their case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court mandated INEC to immediately publish the candidates’ names and grant the ADC access to upload their details, citing compliance with Sections 29(1), 31, 33 and 84 of the 2022 Electoral Act and INEC’s own guidelines.
The plaintiffs argued that INEC refused access because it did not recognize the signatures of the ADC’s current national executives, Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on the party’s substitution notification letter.
The ordered candidates include Jafaru Shaibu, Ayenajeyi Yakubu, and 15 others vying for various council positions.
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