The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 14, 2026, 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 listed Accord Party and INEC as the first and second defendants in the suit, is asking the court to determine whether the party’s failure to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal, despite emerging 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 guidelines.
He is seeking a declaration that the party’s refusal to forward his name contravene Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026 and Clauses 28(1) and (2) of the electoral guidelines on candidate nomination. He also wants the court to order Accord Party to upload and submit his name to INEC.
In the alternative, Olawepo-Hashim urged the court to direct the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would participate if the court declines to compel the submission of his name.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, the Accord Party chieftain described himself as a registered and financial member of the party. He stated that he funded the party’s electronic membership drive with ₦7 million and also paid the required ₦50 million nomination fee to contest the presidential primary.
According to him, he emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of the primary election, which he said was monitored by INEC officials in compliance with the Electoral Act. However, he alleged that despite his victory, the party failed to submit his name to the electoral commission and did not issue aspirants with nomination guidelines as required by INEC regulations.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Henry Akunebu (SAN), argued that political parties are legally bound to comply with the Electoral Act, their constitutions, and INEC guidelines in nominating candidates. He maintained that any party that conducts a valid primary election is statutorily required to submit the name of the winner to INEC.
During proceedings, Justice Mohammed Umar granted an application by INEC’s counsel, H.S. Danjuma, seeking an extension of time to file the commission’s memorandum of appearance and deemed it properly filed and served.
Danjuma informed the court that his chambers received the commission’s brief on July 6 and requested a short adjournment to enable INEC file its counter-affidavit and written address.
Although counsel to Accord Party, Egasi Olusesi, did not oppose the request, Akunebu urged the court to foreclose INEC from further participation in the matter, arguing that the commission failed to respond within the 10-day period stipulated under the Practice Directions for pre-election cases.
In a brief ruling, Justice Umar held that the matter was scheduled for a report of service and hearing, before adjourning the case to July 14 for the substantive hearing.
The suit is expected to test the application of the Electoral Act 2026 and further strengthen judicial scrutiny of internal party democracy ahead of the 2027 general election.
