2027: Court orders Accord Party, INEC to upload Olawepo-Hashim as presidential candidate

By Vivian Okejeme

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the Accord Party (AP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately recognise Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the Accord Party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar ordered the AP to submit the candidate’s name to INEC in line with the provisions of Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026.

The court held that Section 86 of the Electoral Act was violated by the party’s refusal to submit the plaintiff’s name to INEC after he emerged as the sole aspirant at the May 30 presidential primary.

Justice Umar dismissed the claim that the AP did not conduct any primary election, citing evidence that Olawepo-Hashim paid N50 million for the expression of interest and nomination forms, which were accepted by the party.

The judge held that most of the claims made by the Accord Party regarding the disputed primary election were contradictory and untenable in the face of the law.

Olawepo-Hashim, through his counsel, Henry Akunebu, SAN, had urged the court to direct the Accord Party to immediately upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal as its presidential candidate and compel the electoral body to recognise and accept his nomination.

He challenged the authenticity of documents tendered by the party and INEC, particularly a letter allegedly cancelling the party’s presidential primary.

He argued that the document lacked the party’s official stamp and was addressed to the INEC Chairman but received by an unnamed National Commissioner.

Akunebu argued that political parties are bound by the Electoral Act, their constitutions and INEC guidelines in the nomination of candidates. He added that a party that conducts a valid primary has a statutory duty to submit the winner’s name to INEC.

He urged the court to discountenance the exhibits, describing them as documents allegedly fabricated during the proceedings.

In the originating summons, Olawepo-Hashim asked the court to determine whether the 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.

The plaintiff further prayed the court to order the Accord Party to submit his name to INEC or, in the alternative, direct the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would participate.

In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Olawepo-Hashim said he was a registered and financial member of the party, claiming that he funded its electronic membership registration with N7 million and paid N50 million as the nomination fee for the presidential primary.

He maintained that he emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of a primary allegedly monitored by INEC officials, but accused the party of failing to forward his name to the electoral commission.