Court Compels Accord Party To Submit Olawepo-Hashim’s Name To INEC For 2027 Poll

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Accord Party to submit the name of Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim to the Independent National Electoral Commission as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Justice Mohammed Umar gave the order after ruling that the party violated Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026 by failing to forward Olawepo-Hashim’s name to INEC after he emerged as the sole aspirant at the party’s May 30 presidential primary.

The court also directed INEC to uphold Olawepo-Hashim’s nomination as the party’s presidential candidate.

The judgment followed a suit filed by Olawepo-Hashim challenging the refusal of Accord Party to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal despite his claim that he won the party’s presidential primary.

Accord Party had denied conducting the primary, but Justice Umar rejected the party’s position, pointing to evidence that Olawepo-Hashim paid N50 million for the expression of interest and nomination forms.

The judge further held that several claims made by the party concerning the disputed primary were contradictory and could not be sustained in the face of the evidence before the court.

Olawepo-Hashim’s counsel, Henry Akunebu, SAN, had urged the court to compel the party to immediately upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal and direct the electoral body to recognise and accept the nomination.

Akunebu also challenged documents tendered by Accord Party and INEC, particularly a letter purportedly cancelling the presidential primary.

The senior lawyer argued that the document lacked the party’s official stamp and was addressed to the INEC Chairman but received by an unnamed national commissioner.

He maintained that political parties were legally bound by the Electoral Act, their constitutions and INEC guidelines in the conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates.

According to him, once a valid primary has been conducted, the political party has a statutory responsibility to submit the winner’s name to INEC.

Supporters jubilating after court order

Olawepo-Hashim had asked the court to determine whether Accord Party’s refusal to submit his name violated the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution and INEC’s Guidelines for Political Parties.

He also sought a declaration that the party’s failure breached Section 86 of the Electoral Act and Clauses 28(1) and 28(2) of INEC’s guidelines on candidate nomination.

In the alternative, he asked the court to order Accord Party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would participate.

In his affidavit, Olawepo-Hashim stated that he was a registered and financially committed member of the party, claiming that he contributed N7 million towards its electronic membership registration and paid N50 million as nomination fees.

He further maintained that he emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of the May 30 presidential primary, which he said was monitored by INEC officials.

He accused the party of subsequently refusing to forward his name to the electoral commission, prompting the legal challenge.