Court directs INEC to recognise ADC candidate for Adamawa federal constituency

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Abubakar Bashir as the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Yola North/Yola South/Girei Federal Constituency of Adamawa State in the 2027 elections.

Justice Chigozie Onah, who presided over the case, delivered the judgment on September 17, 2026.

The ruling followed a legal dispute over the ADC’s candidate for the federal constituency.

In May 2026, the ADC conducted direct primaries across the country to select its candidates for the 2027 presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives, governorship and state House of Assembly elections.

The party subsequently submitted the names of its candidates to INEC as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.

According to the official results seen by TheCable, Bashir polled 33,931 votes to defeat six other aspirants.

Zayyad Tumbar received 16,266 votes, Yusuf Garba secured 14,611 votes, Abubakar Babazango garnered 4,359 votes, Abdulaziz Abubakar obtained 4,501 votes, Abubakar Gabdo polled 8,022 votes, while Abubakar Mohammed got 10,035 votes.

In June, Bashir alleged a plot to alter the results of the ADC primary election in the federal constituency.

Bashir had claimed that the name of another candidate who did not secure the highest number of votes was submitted to the national headquarters as the winner of the ADC primary.

On June 4, Bashir filed a suit seeking a court declaration that the substitution of his name with that of Abubakar Babazango as the winner of the ADC primary held on May 21, 2026, was illegal.

The respondents in the case are ADC (first respondent), INEC (second respondent), and Abubakar Babazango (third respondent).

“AN ORDER of this Honourable Court directing the 1st Respondent to recognize the Applicant as the rightful winner of the primary election conducted on the 21st May, 2026 for the House of Representative representing Yola North/Yola-South/Girei Federal Constituency, Adamawa State, in the forthcoming general election schedule for 2027 in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2026 and the 1st Respondent’s Constitution,” part of the court documents reads.

‘AN ORDER of this Honourable Court ordering the 1st Respondent to restore the candidacy of the Plaintiff as its validly elected candidate having emerged as the winner of the primary election of 21 May 2026 for the House of Representative representing Yola North/Yola South/Girei Federal Constituency, Adamawa State.

“AN ORDER of this honourable Court ordering the 2nd Respondent to accept the Applicant as the candidate nominated by 1st Respondent in the primaries conducted by the 1st Respondent previously for the office of member of the House of Representative representing Yola North/Yola South/Girei Federal Constituency, Adamawa State.”

THE JUDGMENT

In his ruling, the judge held that the publication of Babazango’s name as the winner of the ADC primary in question could not be sustained, as the process is inconsistent with the party’s guidelines.

The judge ruled after the declaration of the primary election results, the winner’s name could only be substituted in the event of death or withdrawal.

He said in the Adamawa primary in question, the winner neither withdrew from the contest nor died.

“The declaration and publication of the 3rd Defendant as are accordingly set aside,” the judge said.

“AN ORDER MANDATORY INJUNCTION IS HEREBY MADE restraining the 3rd Respondent from howsoever, holding out or parading himself as a candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 general elections for the House of Representative representing Yola North/Yola South/Girei Federal Constituency, Adamawa State.

“AN ORDER OF MANDATORY INJUNCTION IS HEREBY MADE directing the 2nd Defendant to recognize the Plaintiff as the winner of the Primary election and candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) House of Representative seat representing Yola North/Yola South/Girei Federal Constituency, Adamawa State for the 2027 general elections.

The judge awarded N1 million to the applicant as legal costs incurred for the suit against the Babazango and ADC.