Abuja, Nigeria — A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release an access code to the Labour Party (LP), enabling the party to upload the names and details of its nominated candidates ahead of the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections slated for February 2026.
The court order follows a legal challenge by the Labour Party, which complained that it was denied access to INEC’s candidate nomination portal, thereby preventing it from completing mandatory submissions within the approved timetable.
Justice (Name if available) ruled that INEC must grant immediate portal access to the party to ensure its candidates are not unfairly excluded from the upcoming council election process.
The Labour Party described the ruling as a victory for democracy and electoral fairness, stressing that the court’s intervention safeguards the right of political parties to participate fully in the election cycle.
INEC is yet to release an official response to the judgment, but the directive is expected to shape ongoing preparations for the FCT Area Council polls.
The Area Council elections, scheduled for February 2026, will determine leadership across the six area councils: Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali.
This development is likely to generate heightened political activity as parties intensify efforts to finalise candidate lists and prepare for campaigns ahead of the polls.
