Court Orders Accord Party, INEC to Recognise Olawepo-Hashim as 2027 Presidential Candidate
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately recognise Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Justice Umar directed the Accord Party to submit Olawepo-Hashim’s name to INEC in accordance with Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires the electoral commission to accept the nomination.
The judge gave the order on Monday while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Olawepo-Hashim against the Accord Party and INEC.
Justice Umar held that the party violated Section 86 of the Electoral Act by refusing to submit Olawepo-Hashim’s name to INEC after he emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of the party’s May 30 presidential primary.
The Accord Party had denied conducting any presidential primary, but the judge rejected the claim, citing evidence that Olawepo-Hashim paid N50 million for the expression of interest and nomination forms and that the party accepted the payment and his forms.
The judge further held that several of the party’s claims concerning the disputed primary were contradictory and unbelievable in the face of the law.
Olawepo-Hashim, through his counsel, Chief Henry Akunebu, SAN, had asked the court to order the Accord Party to immediately upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal as its presidential candidate and direct INEC to recognise and accept the nomination.
Akunebu also challenged the authenticity of documents tendered by the Accord Party and INEC, particularly a letter allegedly cancelling the party’s presidential primary.
The senior lawyer argued that the document did not bear the party’s official stamp and was addressed to the INEC Chairman but received by an unnamed national commissioner.
He submitted that political parties are bound by the Electoral Act, their constitutions and INEC guidelines when nominating candidates, adding that a party that conducts a valid primary has a statutory obligation to submit the winner’s name to the electoral commission.
Akunebu urged the court to discountenance the exhibits, describing them as documents fabricated during the proceedings.
In his originating summons, Olawepo-Hashim asked the court to determine whether the Accord Party’s refusal to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal, despite his alleged emergence as the sole winner of the May 30 presidential primary, violated the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution and INEC’s Guidelines for Political Parties.
He sought a declaration that the party’s failure 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.
He also asked the court to order the Accord Party to submit his name to INEC or, alternatively, conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would be allowed to participate.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Olawepo-Hashim described himself as a registered and financial member of the Accord Party.
He stated that he contributed N7 million towards the party’s electronic membership registration and paid N50 million as the nomination fee for the presidential primary.
Olawepo-Hashim maintained that he emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of the primary, which he said was monitored by INEC officials, but alleged that the party subsequently failed to forward his name to the electoral commission.
Meanwhile, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has called for reconciliation and unity in the party as the 2027 general election draws nearer.
Olawepo-Hashim, who made the call while reacting to his victory at the court, urged members of the party to “seize the momentum” not just in the presidential election alone but in all other elective offices.
The call came as the presidential candidate of African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, yesterday, paid a congratulatory visit to the Accord Party candidate over the judgement of a Federal High Court that affirmed him as the presidential candidate of the party for the 2027 election.
