The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to uphold Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Justice Mohammed Umar directed the Accord Party to submit Olawepo-Hashim’s name to INEC in line with Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026.
The judge held that the provision was violated when the party failed to submit Olawepo-Hashim’s name to INEC after he emerged as the winner of its May 30 presidential primary as the sole aspirant.
The Accord Party had denied conducting any presidential primary.
Justice Umar, however, rejected the party’s position, citing evidence that Olawepo-Hashim paid N50 million for the expression of interest and nomination forms.
The judge also held that several of the party’s claims concerning the disputed primary were contradictory and not believable in the circumstances of the case.
Through his counsel, Henry Akunebu, SAN, Olawepo-Hashim had asked the court to order the Accord Party to immediately upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal as its presidential candidate.
He also asked the court to compel INEC to recognise and accept his nomination.
Akunebu challenged the authenticity of documents tendered by the Accord Party and INEC, particularly a letter said to have cancelled the party’s presidential primary.
The senior lawyer argued that the letter did not carry the party’s official stamp and was addressed to the INEC chairman but received by an unnamed national commissioner.
Akunebu told the court that political parties were bound by the Electoral Act, their constitutions and INEC guidelines when nominating candidates.
He argued that any party that conducts a valid primary has a statutory duty to submit the name of the winner to INEC.
The lawyer urged the court to reject the exhibits, describing them as documents fabricated during the proceedings.
In his originating summons, Olawepo-Hashim asked the court to determine whether the Accord Party’s refusal to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal, despite his alleged emergence as the sole winner of the May 30 presidential primary, violated the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution and INEC’s Guidelines for Political Parties.
He sought a declaration that the party’s failure to submit his name breached Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026 and Clauses 28(1) and 28(2) of the INEC guidelines on candidate nomination.
Olawepo-Hashim also asked the court to order the Accord Party to submit his name to INEC or, alternatively, direct the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would participate.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, Olawepo-Hashim described himself as a registered and financial member of the Accord Party.
He said he funded the party’s electronic membership registration with N7 million and paid N50 million as the nomination fee for the presidential primary.
Olawepo-Hashim maintained that he emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of the primary, which he said was monitored by INEC officials.
He accused the party of failing to forward his name to the electoral commission despite his emergence from the primary.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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