The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, in a judgment delivered on Monday, directed Accord Party to forward Olawepo-Hashim’s name to INEC in compliance with Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026, while the electoral commission was ordered to accept the nomination.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Olawepo-Hashim over the party’s refusal to submit his name to INEC after he emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of its disputed presidential primary held on May 30, 2026.
Justice Umar rejected the party’s position that no presidential primary was conducted, pointing to evidence that Olawepo-Hashim paid N50 million for the expression of interest and nomination forms, which the party accepted. The judge also faulted aspects of the party’s case concerning the disputed primary, describing its claims as contradictory.
Olawepo-Hashim had, through his counsel, Chief Henry Akunebu, SAN, urged the court to compel Accord Party to upload his details to INEC’s nomination portal and direct the electoral commission to recognise and accept his nomination.
Akunebu also challenged the authenticity of documents tendered by Accord Party and INEC, particularly a letter purportedly cancelling the presidential primary.
The senior lawyer argued that the document did not bear the official stamp of the party and, although addressed to the INEC Chairman, was allegedly received by an unnamed national commissioner.
He maintained that political parties were bound by the Electoral Act, their constitutions and INEC guidelines in the nomination of candidates, arguing that a party that conducts a valid primary has a statutory obligation to submit the winner’s name to the electoral commission.
The plaintiff had asked the court to determine whether Accord Party’s failure to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal violated the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution and INEC’s guidelines.
He also sought a declaration that the party’s refusal to submit his name breached Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026 and Clauses 28(1) and 28(2) of INEC’s guidelines on candidate nomination.
Alternatively, Olawepo-Hashim asked the court to order Accord Party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would participate.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Olawepo-Hashim said he was a registered and financial member of Accord Party and claimed to have contributed N7 million towards the party’s electronic membership registration.
He further stated that he paid N50 million as the nomination fee for the presidential primary and emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of the May 30 exercise, which he said was monitored by INEC officials.
He accused the party of failing to forward his name to INEC despite his alleged victory.
The judgment now places Olawepo-Hashim’s nomination at the centre of Accord Party’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
