The Federal High Court in Abuja has pushed back to July 14, 2026, a legal challenge brought by Accord Party presidential aspirant Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, who is demanding recognition as his party's flag-bearer for the 2027 elections.
Supporters of the aspirant packed the court premises on Thursday to show solidarity with his case.
Olawepo-Hashim dragged the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court as first and second defendants. He wants the court to rule on whether the party's refusal to present his name to INEC after he won the presidential primary breaches the Electoral Act 2026, the constitution and INEC's rules for political parties.
In his originating summons, the plaintiff seeks a declaration that the party violated Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026 and other electoral guidelines by keeping his name from INEC. He also wants the court to force the Accord Party to submit his candidacy to INEC for the 2027 presidential race.
As an alternative remedy, Olawepo-Hashim is asking the court to order the Accord Party to hold a fresh presidential primary where he can compete. In an affidavit, he confirmed he's a registered and paid-up member of the party who forked out the nomination fee to contest the primary.
According to him, he won the party's presidential primary held on May 30, 2026, but the party has since refused to forward his name to INEC. Chief Henry Akunebu (SAN), his counsel, told the court that political parties must obey the Electoral Act, their own constitutions and INEC guidelines when nominating candidates.
"Once a valid primary produces a winner, the party has a legal duty to send that person's name to INEC," Akunebu argued. INEC's legal team asked the court for more time to file its response to the suit.
The Accord Party's counsel backed the request for adjournment, but Olawepo-Hashim's lawyer opposed it and pushed for immediate hearing. The judge granted the adjournment request and scheduled July 14, 2026, for the substantive hearing of the matter.
