ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the presidential candidate of the Accord Party for the 2027 general election, directing the party to upload his name on the nomination portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a judgment delivered on Monday, dismissed preliminary objections to the suit filed by Olawepo-Hashim and rejected a purported letter notifying INEC of the cancellation of the party’s May 30, 2026 presidential primary.
The judgment effectively settles the dispute surrounding Hashim’s emergence as the Accord Party’s standard-bearer for the 2027 presidential election.
Hashim had approached the court after the party failed to submit his name to INEC, insisting that he was the sole aspirant and winner of the presidential primary held on May 30.
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Through his counsel, Henry Akunebu, Hashim urged the court to recognise his nomination and compel Accord to forward his name to the electoral commission.
Akunebu challenged the validity and evidential value of documents relied upon by the defendants to dispute his client’s emergence, particularly the purported letter communicating the cancellation of the primary to INEC.
The lawyer argued that the letter did not bear the party’s official stamp or imprimatur and also questioned the circumstances under which it was received by the electoral commission.
However, counsel to Accord Party, T.W. Olusesi, maintained that the presidential primary had been cancelled and that no valid electoral exercise produced Hashim as the party’s candidate.
INEC’s counsel, D.J. Gusen, similarly argued that the commission did not monitor the primary because it had received notification that the exercise had been cancelled.
Justice Umar, however, rejected the purported cancellation letter and affirmed Hashim’s emergence from the May 30 primary.
The court consequently directed the Accord Party to upload his name as its presidential candidate on the INEC nomination portal.
In his suit, Hashim had asked the court to determine whether Accord could lawfully refuse to upload his name to the INEC portal after he emerged victorious at a party primary.
He argued that the party’s refusal violated the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, as well as relevant INEC regulations and guidelines governing the nomination of candidates for elective offices.
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As an alternative relief, Hashim had asked the court to order the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would be allowed to participate.
The Accord presidential candidate maintained that he was a registered and financially compliant member of the party. He told the court that he had paid the prescribed ₦50 million presidential nomination fee and contributed another ₦7 million towards the party’s electronic membership registration programme.
He also maintained that INEC officials monitored the May 30 primary, although this claim was disputed by the commission’s counsel.
Sowore Congratulates Hashim
Following the judgment, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, paid a congratulatory visit to Hashim.
The meeting brought together two prominent figures associated with Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement and political activism, as both candidates continue to position themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Sowore congratulated Hashim on the court victory and the resolution of the dispute surrounding his emergence as Accord Party’s presidential candidate.
‘We Won’t Leave Anybody Behind’ — Hashim
Speaking after the judgment, Hashim dedicated the victory to God, the party’s stakeholders and members, as well as his legal team.
He also commended the judiciary for what he described as doing justice in the matter.
“I give God the glory for this victory. I dedicate the victory also to all stakeholders and our dear party members and my hardworking legal team. We are grateful to the judiciary that has done justice on this matter,” Hashim said.
The Accord candidate called on members and stakeholders to put the internal dispute behind them and work together towards strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We won’t leave anybody behind. We should all come together and work for the party’s victory.”
He added: “The march to a New Nigeria has started.”
Hashim further urged Accord members to build a stronger electoral organisation capable of competing effectively in the presidential, governorship and National Assembly elections.
According to him, the 2027 election will be heavily influenced by issues such as economic hardship and insecurity rather than assumptions based solely on the performance of political parties in previous elections.
With the court ruling, attention will now shift to the implementation of the judgment and Accord Party’s compliance with the directive to upload Hashim’s name to the INEC nomination portal as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
