The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled in favor of Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, ordering the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize him as the party's presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. Justice Mohammed Umar delivered the judgment on Monday, stating that Olawepo-Hashim was lawfully nominated as the party's presidential candidate following the primary held on May 30, 2026. The court directed that his name be uploaded to INEC's nomination portal.
Olawepo-Hashim had approached the court seeking recognition as the duly nominated presidential candidate of Accord, claiming he emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of the party's May 30 primary. He argued that the party could not validly refuse to submit his name to INEC after conducting the primary. His legal team challenged documents relied upon by Accord and INEC to dispute the validity of the primary, including a purported letter notifying INEC that the presidential primary had been cancelled.
The court rejected the purported cancellation of the primary and held that the exercise that produced Olawepo-Hashim was valid. The judgment brings a major development to the prolonged dispute over the party's presidential ticket, which had resulted in litigation after Accord failed to submit Olawepo-Hashim's name to INEC. The case had pitted Olawepo-Hashim against both Accord Party and INEC, with counsel to Accord Party and INEC opposing the suit.
Olawepo-Hashim had maintained that he was a registered and financially compliant member of Accord Party, paying ₦50 million as the presidential nomination fee and contributing ₦7 million towards the party's electronic membership registration programme. He emerged as the sole aspirant at the May 30 exercise, which he said was monitored by INEC officials. His case was that having fulfilled the requirements for participation and emerged from the primary, the party had a legal obligation to transmit his name to INEC.
The legal battle had continued for months before Monday's judgment, with the Federal High Court hearing arguments from the parties before Justice Umar reserved judgment. Olawepo-Hashim's lawyers urged the court to compel Accord to immediately submit his name to INEC, while the party and electoral commission urged the court to dismiss the suit. The dispute became significant after INEC published its list of presidential candidates for the 2027 election without Olawepo-Hashim's name.
Reacting to the judgment, Olawepo-Hashim described the decision as a victory for the judiciary and dedicated it to God, party stakeholders, members, and his legal team. He called on members of Accord Party to put the dispute behind them and work together ahead of the 2027 elections. Olawepo-Hashim urged party stakeholders to come together and work towards the party's success in the January 16, 2027 presidential election and other elections.
The judgment is expected to have implications for Accord Party's preparations for the 2027 elections, particularly the submission and publication of its presidential candidate. For Olawepo-Hashim, the ruling represents a significant legal victory after months of uncertainty over whether the primary he said produced him would be recognised. For Accord Party and INEC, the immediate issue is now compliance with the court's directive on his nomination and inclusion in the electoral process.
Key points
- The Federal High Court has ordered Accord Party and INEC to recognize Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the party's presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
- Olawepo-Hashim was lawfully nominated as the party's presidential candidate following the primary held on May 30, 2026.
- The judgment brings a major development to the prolonged dispute over the party's presidential ticket, which had resulted in litigation after Accord failed to submit Olawepo-Hashim's name to INEC.
