By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 14 for the substantive hearing of a suit filed by an Accord Party chieftain, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, seeking to compel the party to recognise him as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election and submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Mohammed Umar adjourned the matter to July 14 at the court’s proceedings on Thursday, July 9.
Olawepo-Hashim, who sued the Accord Party and INEC as first and second defendants, is asking the court to determine whether the party’s failure to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal, despite emerging as the sole winner of the party’s presidential primary held on May 30, 2026, violates the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution, and INEC’s guidelines.
The plaintiff is seeking a declaration that the party’s refusal to submit his name breached Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026 and Clauses 28(1) and (2) of the electoral guidelines on candidate nomination.
He is also asking the court to compel the Accord Party to upload and submit his name to INEC as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Olawepo-Hashim alternatively urged the court to order the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would participate if it declines to grant his principal relief.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, Olawepo-Hashim described himself as a registered and financial member of the Accord Party, adding that he sponsored the party’s electronic membership drive with N7 million.
He further stated that he paid the prescribed N50 million nomination fee to contest the party’s presidential primary, where he emerged as the sole aspirant and winner in an exercise he said was monitored by INEC officials in line with the Electoral Act.
The plaintiff alleged that despite his victory, the party failed to submit his name to INEC and did not issue aspirants with guidelines for the primary as required by INEC regulations, although he proceeded based on assurances allegedly given by the party’s national leadership.
Counsel for the plaintiff, Henry Akunebu, SAN, argued that political parties are bound by law to comply with the Electoral Act, their constitutions, and INEC’s guidelines in nominating candidates.
He maintained that a political party that conducts a valid primary is under a statutory obligation to submit the name of the winner to INEC and urged the court to uphold internal party democracy by granting the plaintiff’s reliefs.
At Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Mohammed Umar granted an application by INEC’s counsel, H.S. Danjuma, seeking an extension of time to file the commission’s memorandum of appearance and deemed the processes properly filed and served.
Danjuma told the court that his chambers received instructions from the commission on July 6 and sought a short adjournment to enable INEC to file its counter-affidavit and written address.
Although counsel for the Accord Party, Egasi Olusesi, did not oppose the request, Akunebu urged the court to foreclose INEC from the proceedings and proceed with the substantive suit.
He argued that INEC failed to respond within the 10 days prescribed by the Practice Directions for pre-election matters, citing Rule 6(4) and (5).
In a brief ruling, Justice Umar held that the matter was slated for a report of service and hearing, and adjourned the suit until July 14 for the substantive hearing.
