2027: Olawepo-Hashim sues Accord Party, INEC over disputed presidential ticket

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed July 14, 2026, for the substantive hearing of a suit filed by an 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 forward his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Hashim, who named Accord Party and INEC as first and second defendants in an Originating Summons, is asking the court to determine whether the party’s failure to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal — despite emerging as sole winner of the party’s presidential primary on May 30, 2026 — violates the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution, and INEC’s guidelines for political parties.

He is seeking a declaration that the party’s refusal to forward his name breaches Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026 and Clauses 28(1) and (2) of the electoral guidelines on candidate nomination, and wants the court to order Accord Party to upload and submit his name to INEC.

In the alternative, he is asking the court to direct the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would participate, should the court decline to order submission of his name.

In an affidavit supporting the suit, Hashim described himself as a registered and financial member of Accord Party, and stated that he sponsored the party’s electronic membership drive with a payment of ₦7 million.

He said he also paid the prescribed ₦50 million nomination fee to contest the presidential primary, emerging as the sole aspirant and winner of the exercise, which he said was monitored by INEC officials in line with the Electoral Act.

He alleged that despite his victory, the party failed to submit his name to INEC, and that it had not issued aspirants with guidelines for the primary as required by INEC regulations, though he proceeded on the strength of assurances he said were given by the party’s national leadership.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Henry Akunebu, SAN, argued in the written address that political parties are legally bound to comply with the Electoral Act, their constitutions and INEC’s guidelines in nominating candidates, and that a party which conducts a valid primary is statutorily obligated to submit the winner’s name to INEC.

He urged the court to uphold internal party democracy by granting all the reliefs sought.

INEC granted time to respond

Earlier in proceedings, Justice Mohammed Umar granted a motion by INEC’s counsel, H.S. Danjuma, for an extension of time to file its memorandum of appearance, deeming it properly filed and served.

Danjuma told the court his chambers were briefed by the commission on July 6 and sought a short adjournment to file a counter-affidavit and written address.

While counsel to Accord Party, Egasi Olusesi, did not oppose the adjournment, Akunebu urged the court to foreclose INEC from the suit and proceed directly to the substantive case, arguing that the commission had breached the Practice Directions for pre-election matters by failing to respond within the stipulated 10-day window, citing Rule 6(4) and (5).

In a short ruling, Justice Umar held that the matter was listed for report of service and hearing, and adjourned the case to July 14 for hearing of the substantive suit.

The case is expected to test the application of the Electoral Act 2026 and reinforce judicial scrutiny of internal party democracy ahead of the 2027 general election.