COURT FIXES JULY 14 TO HEAR ACCORD PARTY PRESIDENTIAL TICKET DISPUTE
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By; Sunmola Ganiyat
The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled July 14 for the substantive hearing of a suit filed by Accord Party chieftain, 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 after allegedly emerging as the sole winner of the party’s presidential primary held on May 30, 2026.
In the suit, filed against the Accord Party and INEC, the plaintiff is seeking a declaration that the party’s failure to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal violates provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution and the commission’s candidate nomination guidelines.
He contends that the party breached statutory requirements by refusing to forward his name despite his emergence as the only aspirant and winner of the primary election.
Olawepo-Hashim is requesting an order compelling the party to submit his name to INEC. Alternatively, he is asking the court to direct the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would participate.
In an affidavit supporting the case, the politician described himself as a registered and financial member of the party, stating that he contributed N7 million toward its electronic membership drive.
He further claimed to have paid the prescribed N50 million nomination fee and emerged victorious in a primary election allegedly monitored by INEC officials in accordance with electoral regulations.
According to him, the party failed to submit his name to the electoral commission despite his victory and did not provide aspirants with the required nomination guidelines before the primary.
His counsel, Henry Akunebu, argued that political parties are legally bound to comply with the Electoral Act, their constitutions and INEC guidelines when nominating candidates.
He maintained that any party that conducts a valid primary election has a statutory obligation to submit the name of the winner to the electoral commission.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Mohammed Umar granted an application by INEC’s counsel, H. S. Danjuma, seeking additional time to file the commission’s memorandum of appearance.
Danjuma informed the court that INEC only received instructions on the matter on July 6 and requested a brief adjournment to enable the commission file its counter-affidavit and written address.
While counsel for the Accord Party, Egasi Olusesi, did not oppose the application, the plaintiff’s lawyer urged the court to proceed with the substantive case, arguing that INEC had failed to respond within the stipulated timeframe.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to July 14 for substantive hearing.
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