The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the Accord Party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The judgment delivered on Monday brings a significant legal dispute over the party’s presidential ticket to a conclusion.
Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed the preliminary objections filed against Hashim’s suit and rejected the purported letter used to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the cancellation of the party’s presidential primary.
The court also directed the Accord Party to upload Hashim’s name to INEC as its presidential candidate, thereby recognising his emergence from the party’s presidential primary held on May 30, 2026.
Hashim had approached the court seeking recognition as Accord Party’s duly nominated presidential candidate, arguing that he was the sole aspirant and winner of the May 30, 2026 primary.
His case was presented by Henry Akunebu, SAN, who asked the court to compel the party to recognise Hashim’s candidacy and submit his name to INEC.
Akunebu challenged the validity and evidential value of documents used to contest Hashim’s emergence, particularly the purported letter notifying INEC that the presidential primary had been cancelled.
He argued that the alleged cancellation letter did not bear the party’s official stamp and imprimatur and also questioned the circumstances under which INEC received it.
Representing Accord Party, T.W. Olusesi argued that the presidential primary had been cancelled and that no valid primary produced Hashim as the party’s candidate.
Counsel for INEC, D.J. Gusen, similarly told the court that the commission did not monitor the purported primary because it had received notification that the exercise had been cancelled.
Justice Umar, however, dismissed the preliminary objections and rejected the purported cancellation letter, allowing the court to recognise the outcome of the May 30 primary.
The judgment followed months of legal disputes over the Accord Party’s presidential ticket and the party’s failure to submit Hashim’s name to INEC despite his claim that he won the primary.
Hashim had argued that the party’s refusal to upload his name violated the Constitution, Electoral Act 2026 and relevant INEC regulations and guidelines governing the nomination of political candidates.
In his originating summons, he asked the court to determine whether Accord Party could lawfully refuse to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal after conducting a primary in which he emerged as the winner.
He also sought, in the alternative, an order directing the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would be allowed to participate.
Throughout the proceedings, Hashim maintained that he was a registered and financially compliant member of Accord Party, had paid the prescribed ₦50 million presidential nomination fee and contributed ₦7 million to the party’s electronic membership registration programme.
He also maintained that INEC officials monitored the May 30 primary, at which he emerged as the sole aspirant.
Reacting to the judgment, Hashim dedicated the victory to God and called for reconciliation among party stakeholders and members.
“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.
“We won’t leave anybody behind…We should all come together and work for the party’s victory in the January 16, 2027 presidential election and all other elections. The march to a New Nigeria has started,” said Hashim