Court Fixes July 14 for Hearing in Accord Party Presidential Ticket Suit

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 14 for the substantive hearing of a suit filed by an Accord Party chieftain, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, seeking recognition as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

 

Olawepo-Hashim is asking the court to compel the Accord Party to submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), arguing that he emerged as the sole winner of the party’s presidential primary held on May 30, 2026.

 

The plaintiff contended that the party’s failure to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal violated the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution and INEC’s guidelines. In the alternative, he urged the court to order the conduct of a fresh presidential primary.

 

In his affidavit, Olawepo-Hashim said he paid the N50 million nomination fee and emerged unopposed at the primary, which he claimed was monitored by INEC officials in accordance with the law.

 

During Thursday’s proceedings, the court granted INEC additional time to file its response after the commission said it only received instructions on the matter on July 6. Counsel to the plaintiff opposed the request, arguing that INEC failed to respond within the time allowed under the Practice Directions for pre-election matters.

 

Justice Mohammed Umar subsequently adjourned the case until July 14 for substantive hearing.