The Federal High Court in Abuja was besieged by supporters of former presidential aspirant, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, on Thursday as he commenced legal action seeking recognition as the Accord Party's presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The suit, filed before the court in Abuja, names the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission as the first and second defendants.
Olawepo-Hashim is asking the court to compel the party to recognise him as its presidential flag bearer and transmit his name to INEC, claiming he emerged as the sole winner of the party's presidential primary conducted on May 30, 2026.
In the originating summons, the plaintiff asked the court to determine whether the party's failure to upload his name to INEC's nomination portal violated the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution and the electoral commission's regulations for political parties.
He also sought a declaration that the party breached the provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC's nomination guidelines by refusing to forward his name despite his emergence at the primary election.
As an alternative relief, Olawepo-Hashim urged the court to order the Accord Party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would participate if it declined to compel the submission of his name to INEC.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, he stated that he is a registered and financially up-to-date member of the Accord Party, adding that he contributed ₦7 million to fund the party's electronic membership registration exercise.
He further claimed to have paid ₦50 million as the party's presidential nomination fee and emerged unopposed at the primary election, which he said was monitored by INEC officials.
According to him, despite winning the exercise, the party failed to submit his name to the electoral commission and also did not provide aspirants with guidelines for the conduct of the primary as required by INEC regulations.
His counsel, Chief Henry Akunebu (SAN), argued that political parties are legally bound to comply with the Electoral Act, their constitutions and INEC guidelines in nominating candidates, insisting that a validly nominated winner cannot be arbitrarily denied recognition.
At Thursday's proceedings, counsel for INEC sought an adjournment to enable the commission respond to the suit. The Accord Party's lawyer supported the request, while Akunebu opposed it and urged the court to proceed with the matter.
After hearing the parties, the trial judge granted the application for adjournment and fixed July 14, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit. The case is expected to test the provisions of the Electoral Act on internal party democracy ahead of the 2027 general election.
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