The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the Accord Party's presidential candidate for the 2027 election. The court ordered the party to upload his name on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal. This decision was made on Monday, following a judgment that dismissed preliminary objections to Hashim's suit.
The court's decision came after Hashim approached the court when Accord failed to submit his name to INEC, despite him being the sole aspirant and winner of the party's May 30 presidential primary. His counsel, Henry Akunebu, urged the court to recognise his nomination and compel the party to forward his name to INEC. Akunebu challenged the validity of documents disputing Hashim's emergence, particularly a purported letter communicating the cancellation of the primary to INEC.
The Accord Party's counsel, T.W. Olusesi, argued that the presidential primary had been cancelled and that no valid exercise produced Hashim as the party's candidate. INEC's counsel, D.J. Gusen, also argued that the commission did not monitor the primary because it had received notification that the exercise had been cancelled. However, Justice Mohammed Umar rejected the purported cancellation letter and affirmed Hashim's emergence from the May 30 primary.
Following the judgment, African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, paid Hashim a congratulatory visit. Sowore congratulated Hashim on the judgment and the resolution of the dispute over his emergence as Accord's standard-bearer. The visit brought together the two presidential candidates, both of whom have backgrounds in Nigeria's pro-democracy movement and political activism.
Hashim dedicated the victory to God, thanking the judiciary, his legal team, and party members. He called on party members and stakeholders to reconcile and unite ahead of the elections. Hashim stated that the judgment should provide an opportunity to bring stakeholders together, saying, "We won't leave anybody behind. We should all come together and work for the party's victory."
Hashim maintained that he was a registered and financially compliant party member who had paid the prescribed ₦50 million presidential nomination fee and contributed ₦7 million towards Accord's electronic membership registration programme. He urged party stakeholders to build a stronger electoral organisation, saying Accord could compete in the presidential, governorship, and National Assembly elections.
The 2027 election is expected to be shaped by economic hardship and insecurity, rather than assumptions based on previous election results. With the court's affirmation, Hashim is set to participate in the election as Accord's presidential candidate. Key points include:
Key points
- The Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as Accord Party's presidential candidate.
- Hashim was declared the winner of the party's May 30 presidential primary.
- The court's decision was made despite opposition from Accord and INEC, who claimed the primary was cancelled.
