The Federal High Court in Abuja scheduled July 14, 2026, to hear arguments in a dispute over the Accord Party's presidential ticket for next year's election. Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a prominent party member, took the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission to court demanding recognition as the rightful nominee.
Olawepo-Hashim won the party's presidential primary on May 30, 2026, as the sole contestant. He contends the Accord Party violated the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines by refusing to submit his name to the electoral commission's portal.
In his court papers, he argued that the party's decision breaches Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026 and the electoral guidelines governing candidate nomination. He's asking the judge to order the party to immediately upload and forward his name to INEC.
If the court rejects that request, Olawepo-Hashim wants the party forced to conduct a fresh presidential primary where he can compete again. He described himself as a committed party member with a financial stake in its operations.
The plaintiff bankrolled the party's electronic membership registration system with ₦7 million, according to court documents. He also paid the standard ₦50 million fee required to enter the presidential contest.
The primary election took place under INEC supervision, he said, making it valid under electoral law. Despite his victory, the party declined to nominate him, Olawepo-Hashim told the court.
His legal team, led by senior advocate Henry Akunebu, stressed that political parties must follow the Electoral Act, their own bylaws and INEC's regulations when choosing candidates. "Any party that holds a valid primary is legally required to submit the winner's name to INEC," Akunebu argued in his written submission.
The lawyer urged the court to protect democratic processes within parties by granting all the remedies his client sought. He emphasised that internal party democracy formed the foundation of Nigeria's electoral system.
Justice Mohammed Umar allowed INEC additional time to prepare its response, accepting a request from the commission's counsel, H.S. Danjuma.
Danjuma told the court that his office received the case file on July 6 and needed days to file the necessary counter-documents.
Accord Party's counsel, Egasi Olusesi, didn't object to the extension. However, Akunebu pushed back hard, asking the judge to exclude INEC from the proceedings entirely and move straight to deciding the case.
He pointed out that INEC missed the 10-day deadline set by the court's practice directions for pre-election disputes, citing specific procedural rules. Akunebu argued this breach justified removing the commission from the case and proceeding without its input.
