The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has recorded victory against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided by Justice Mohammed Umar, on Tuesday, ordered the Commission to recognize and publish names of candidates submitted by the ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, for the February 21, Area Councils election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Justice Umar, delivering judgment in a suit filed by 17 candidates of the ADC, challenging the refusal of INEC to give them electronic access to enable them contest for elective positions in the forthcoming Area Councils election, held that the evidence provided by the plaintiffs was credible enough for him to attach a more probate value, adding that the plaintiffs also proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt to earn the reliefs sought in their originating summons.

The Judge, subsequently, issued an order directing INEC to recognize and publish the names of the plaintiffs as candidates of the ADC for the various positions the plaintiffs contested for in the substitution primary election of the ADC preparatory to the 2026 FCT Area Council elections.

Justice Umar further directed INEC to give the ADC electronic access to upload the names of the plaintiffs as her candidates for the various positions the plaintiffs contested for in the substitution primary election of the ADC preparatory to the 2026 FCT Area Council elections by virtue of Sections 29(1), 31, 33 and 84(1)(5)(6) of the 2022 Electoral Act and the Election Guidelines of INEC.

The candidates filed the suit against the INEC for denying the ADC access to upload their names as ADC candidates in the forthcoming elections.