The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been ordered to grant the Labour Party (LP) access code to enable it to upload the names and particulars of its nominated candidates for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council election scheduled to hold in February 2026

INEC is also ordered to upload the names and particulars of the LP’s nominated candidates for the FCT area council election and publish the same at the respective six area councils for public scrutiny within 48 hours, pending the hearing of an existing motion on notice filed by the LP.

Justice J. O. E. Adeyemi-Ajayi issued the orders on December 16 while ruling on an ex parte motion for interim injunctions filed by the LP and moved by its lawyer, Christian Elom.

In a supporting affidavit, the LP stated that it chose to approach the court after INEC allegedly failed to publish the names of its candidates for the February 2026 council elections as required, despite being duly notified.

A certified true copy (CTC) of the enrolled orders as contained in the ruling on the motion ex parte, marked M/16037/2025, was seen on Thursday.

The orders read:

*An interim injunction is hereby granted, directing the defendant (INEC) to grant access code to the claimant/applicant (LP) to upload the names and particulars of its nominated candidates for the FCT area council election scheduled to hold in February 2026 by the defendant within 48 hours pending the hearing of the motion on notice. 

*An interim injunction is hereby granted directing the defendant to upload the names and particulars of the claimant/applicant’s nominated candidates for the FCT area council election and publish the same at the respective six area councils for public scrutiny within 48 hours pending the hearing of the motion on notice. 

*This interim injunction is hereby made this day upon application ex-parte which shall abate seven days from today unless extended before the abatement of the order. 

Justice Adeyemi-Ajayi proceeded to grant an accelerated hearing in the case and adjourned till January 27 next year for the hearing of the motion on notice.

The LP stated, in its support affidavit, that it gave the notice of its primary elections to the defendant (INEC) within the time frame provided by the law 

The party added that after its primary elections, and within the 180 days provided by the law, it submitted the list of the candidates who emerged from the primaries it conducted and whom it proposes to support at the election, to INEC, in the prescribed forms. 

 The LP argued that INEC is duty-bound to, within seven days of receipt of the particulars of the candidates, publish the same in the constituency in which the candidates intend to contest the election. 

The party added that the law mandates the defendant (INEC) to, at least 150 days before the day of the election, publish, by displaying at the relevant office or offices of the defendant, and on the defendant’s website, a statement of the full names and addresses of the candidates standing nominated by the claimant.

The LP accused INEC of allegedly failing to perform these statutory responsibilities.

Source; The Nation News