Court to rule on Olawepo-Hashim’s Accord presidential ticket suit

A chieftain of the Accord Party, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, is pursuing legal action to be recognized as the party's presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. He has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order to compel the party to submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate.

“

The document lacked the party’s official stamp and was addressed to the INEC chairman but was received by an unnamed national commissioner.

Olawepo-Hashim's counsel, Henry Akunebu (SAN), urged the court to direct Accord to upload his name to INEC's nomination portal and for the electoral body to accept it. The lawyer contested the validity of documents presented by Accord and INEC, particularly a letter allegedly canceling the party's presidential primaries, arguing they lacked official endorsement and were fabricated.

“

The presidential primaries had been validly cancelled after no aspirant purchased nomination forms or presented themselves for the exercise.

The Accord Party, through its counsel T.W. Olusesi, argued for the dismissal of the suit, maintaining that the presidential primaries were validly canceled because no aspirants purchased nomination forms. INEC's counsel, D.J. Gusen, supported the party's stance, stating the commission was notified of the cancellation. The court has reserved judgment on the matter.

“

The commission did not monitor the exercise because it received a letter notifying it of the cancellation through one of its national commissioners.