The Federal High Court in Abuja has made a decisive ruling, affirming Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the presidential candidate of the Accord Party for the 2027 presidential election. This judgment brings an end to a significant legal dispute over the party's presidential ticket. The court's decision was delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar, who dismissed preliminary objections filed against Hashim's suit.
The court's ruling rejected a purported letter that was used to communicate the cancellation of the party's presidential primary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Justice Umar ordered the Accord Party to upload Hashim's name to INEC as its presidential candidate, effectively recognising his emergence from the party's presidential primary held on May 30, 2026. Hashim had approached the court seeking recognition as the duly nominated presidential candidate of the Accord Party.
Hashim's case was argued by Henry Akunebu, who urged the court to compel the party to recognise Hashim and forward his name to INEC. The Accord Party's position was represented by T.W. Olusesi, who maintained that the presidential primary had been cancelled and that no valid primary produced Hashim as the party's candidate. INEC's counsel, D.J. Gusen, argued that the commission did not monitor the purported primary because it had received notification that the exercise had been cancelled.
Justice Umar dismissed the preliminary objections and rejected the purported cancellation letter, paving the way for the court to recognise the outcome of the May 30 primary. This judgment follows months of legal contest over the Accord Party presidential ticket and the party's failure to submit Hashim's name to INEC despite his claim that he had emerged as the winner of the primary. Hashim had argued that the party's refusal to upload his name violated the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and relevant INEC regulations and guidelines.
In his reaction to the ruling, Hashim dedicated the victory to God and called for reconciliation among stakeholders and party members. The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has paid a congratulatory visit to Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim following the Federal High Court judgment affirming him as the presidential candidate of the Accord Party for the 2027 election.
Sowore, a prominent pro-democracy activist and presidential candidate, congratulated Hashim on the legal victory and the resolution of the dispute surrounding his emergence as Accord's standard bearer. The visit comes after the court dismissed the preliminary objections in the case and ordered the relevant electoral authorities to recognise Hashim as Accord's duly nominated presidential candidate.
The judgment is a significant development in Nigeria's electoral process, as it provides clarity on the presidential candidate of the Accord Party for the 2027 election. The court's decision is expected to have implications for the party's participation in the election and the overall democratic process in Nigeria. Key parties have reacted positively to the judgment, with Hashim and Sowore expressing optimism about the future.
Key points
- The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the presidential candidate of the Accord Party for the 2027 presidential election.
- The court's judgment dismissed preliminary objections and rejected a purported letter cancelling the party's presidential primary.
- Hashim's emergence as the presidential candidate has been recognised by the court, and he has been congratulated by Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC).
