ADC Coalition: Court Says No Faction Exists, Orders INEC to Recognize Mark-led Candidates for FCT Polls

By Adesina Soyooye

On Tuesday a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja gave the David Mark-led African Democratic Congress, ADC, a reason to celebrate. It affirmed that there is no faction in the party and that Mark is its only recognised  Chairman.

The Court, therefore, directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the names of candidates submitted by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under Senator David Mark for the upcoming February 21 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Honourable Justice Mohammed Umar, delivering judgment in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1907/25, ruled in favor of 17 ADC candidates who challenged INEC’s refusal to grant them electronic access to upload their names on the commission’s portal and thus preventing their participation in the local elections.

According to Justice Umar, the evidence presented by the plaintiffs was  not only credible, but “proved their case beyond reasonable doubt.” Therefore, he ordered INEC to recognize and publish their names as ADC candidates for all the positions they desire to contest for in the party’s substitution primary election.

He, also, mandated that the names be uploaded onto INEC’s portal in compliance with Sections 29(1), 31, 33, and 84(1)(5)(6) of the 2022 Electoral Act and INEC’s Election Guidelines.

The candidates ordered by the Court to be listed are:

• 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, ●Tobias Obechina.

The plaintiffs headed to  court when INEC denied ADC access to upload their particulars related to substitution primaries, citing issues with recognition of the current party leadership’s signatures—including those of Senator David Mark (National Chairman) and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (National Secretary)—by INEC’s officials.