By TAIYE AGBAJE

An Abuja High Court has warned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, against disregarding its orders directing the recognition of all Labour Party (LP)’s candidates for the forthcoming FCT area council election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice J. O. E. Adeyemi-Ajayi had, on Dec. 16, ordered INEC to grant the LP access code to enable it upload the names and particulars of its nominated candidates for the poll.

However, the warning came following alleged refusal of the commission to comply with the court order.

The warning is contained in a document labeled “Form 48,” with the caption: “Notice of Consequences of Disobedience of Order of this Honourable Court Made of the 16th Day of December 2025.”

The document, issued by the court’s registrar on Dec. 29, a copy of which was sighted in Abuja on Wednesday, is addressed to the INEC chairman in person.

Part of it reads: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this attached court order to wit:

*An interim injunction is hereby granted directing the defendant (the commission) to grant access code to the claimant/applicant to upload the names and particulars of their nominated candidates for the FCT Area Council election scheduled to hold in February by the defendant (the commission) within 48 hours pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

*An interim injunction is hereby granted directing the defendant (the commission) to upload the names and particulars of the claimant/applicant’s nominated candidates for public scrutiny within 48 hours pending the hearing and determination of the motion notice.

*And take further notice that you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to Nigerian Correctional Center.”

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

The judge then adjourned untill Jan. 27, 2026, for the hearing of the motion on notice.

The motion, marked: M/16037/2025 was filed by the LP along with the substantive suit, marked: FCT/HC/CV/4930/2025, which had INEC listed as the sole defendant/respondent.

The LP, in an affidavit in support of the motion, averred 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.

The party stated that it gave the notice of its primary elections to the defendant (INEC) within the time frame provided by the law

It 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 within 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. (NAN)