The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 14 for the substantive hearing of a suit filed by Accord Party chieftain, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, seeking an order compelling the party to recognise him as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election and submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Olawepo-Hashim, who sued the Accord Party and INEC as first and second defendants, is asking the court to determine whether the party’s failure to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal, despite his emergence as the sole winner of the party’s presidential primary held on May 30, 2026, violates the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution and INEC’s nomination guidelines.
The plaintiff is seeking a declaration that the party’s refusal to submit his name breached Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026 and Clauses 28(1) and (2) of the electoral guidelines on candidate nomination.
He is also asking the court to compel the Accord Party to upload and submit his name to INEC.
Alternatively, Olawepo-Hashim wants the court to order the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would be allowed to participate if his main request is not granted.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, the plaintiff described himself as a registered and financial member of the Accord Party, stating that he supported the party’s electronic membership drive with ₦7 million.
He also stated that he paid the required ₦50 million nomination fee to contest the party’s presidential primary, where he emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of the exercise, which he said was monitored by INEC officials in accordance with the Electoral Act.
Olawepo-Hashim alleged that despite his victory, the party failed to submit his name to INEC and did not provide aspirants with guidelines for the primary as required by electoral regulations, although he proceeded based on assurances from the party’s national leadership.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Henry Akunebu, SAN, argued that political parties are legally required to comply with the Electoral Act, their constitutions and INEC guidelines when nominating candidates.
He submitted that a party that conducts a valid primary has a statutory duty to forward the name of the winner to INEC, urging the court to protect internal party democracy by granting the reliefs sought.
At Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Mohammed Umar granted an application by INEC’s counsel, H.S. Danjuma, for an extension of time to file the commission’s memorandum of appearance and deemed the processes properly filed and served.
Danjuma told the court that his chambers received instructions from INEC on July 6 and requested a short adjournment to enable the commission to file its counter-affidavit and written address.
While counsel for the Accord Party, Egasi Olusesi, did not oppose the request, Akunebu urged the court to bar INEC from participating in the proceedings and proceed with the substantive matter.
He argued that the electoral body failed to respond within the 10-day period prescribed under the Practice Directions for pre-election matters, citing Rule 6(4) and (5).
In a brief ruling, Justice Umar held that the matter was before the court for a report of service and hearing, and subsequently adjourned the case until July 14 for substantive hearing.
