The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 14, 2026, for the substantive hearing of a suit filed by Accord Party chieftain, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, seeking to be recognised as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Olawepo-Hashim is asking the court to compel the Accord Party to submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following his emergence as the sole winner of the party’s presidential primary held on May 30, 2026.
In the suit, the plaintiff argued that the party’s refusal to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal violates the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution and INEC’s guidelines on candidate nomination.
He is seeking a declaration affirming his nomination and an order directing the Accord Party to submit his name to INEC.
Alternatively, he asked the court to order the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary if his request is not granted.
According to court documents, Olawepo-Hashim stated that he is a registered and financial member of the Accord Party.
He also claimed to have contributed ₦7 million to the party’s electronic membership drive and paid the required ₦50 million nomination fee before participating in the primary election, which he said was monitored by INEC officials.
At Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Mohammed Umar granted INEC’s request for additional time to file its response after the commission said it only received instructions on the matter on July 6.
