By Ayomide Otitoju
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise 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, while ordering the electoral body to accept the nomination.
The judge gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Olawepo-Hashim against the Accord Party and INEC over the party’s failure to submit his name as its presidential candidate.
Justice Umar held that the refusal to forward the plaintiff’s name to INEC after he allegedly emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of the party’s May 30 presidential primary violated Section 86 of the Electoral Act.
The Accord Party had denied conducting the primary election, but the judge rejected the claim, citing evidence that Olawepo-Hashim paid N50 million for the expression of interest and nomination forms, which were accepted by the party.
Justice Umar also held that several of the party’s claims concerning the disputed primary were contradictory and inconsistent with the provisions of the law.
Olawepo-Hashim, through his counsel, Henry Akunebu (SAN), had asked the court to order the Accord Party to immediately upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal and compel the electoral body to recognise and accept his nomination.
Akunebu also challenged the authenticity of documents tendered by the party and INEC, particularly a letter purportedly cancelling the presidential primary.
The lawyer argued that the letter was not stamped with the party’s official stamp and, although addressed to the INEC Chairman, was 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, adding that a party that conducts a valid primary has a statutory obligation to submit the winner’s name to INEC.
Akunebu urged the court to discountenance the disputed exhibits, describing them as documents allegedly 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 the INEC 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 participate.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Olawepo-Hashim described himself as a registered and financial member of the party and said he contributed N7 million towards its electronic membership registration.
He also said he paid N50 million as the nomination fee for the presidential primary, emerged as the sole aspirant and won the primary, which he said was monitored by INEC officials.
He accused the party of subsequently failing to forward his name to the electoral commission.
