The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has affirmed Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the presidential candidate of the Accord Party for the 2027 general election, bringing a major legal dispute over the party’s presidential ticket to a judicial determination.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a judgment delivered on Monday, dismissed the preliminary objections filed against Hashim’s suit and rejected a purported letter used to communicate the cancellation of the party’s presidential primary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court consequently ordered the Accord Party to recognise Hashim as its presidential candidate and forward his name to INEC for uploading on the commission’s nomination portal. The judgment recognised his emergence from the party’s presidential primary held on May 30, 2026.
Hashim had approached the court seeking judicial recognition as the duly nominated presidential candidate of Accord. He maintained that he was the sole aspirant and winner of the May 30 primary and that the party had no lawful basis to withhold his name from the electoral commission.
His case was argued by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Henry Akunebu, who urged the court to compel Accord to recognise Hashim and transmit his name to INEC. His legal team also challenged the validity and evidential value of documents relied upon to dispute his emergence.
A major point of contention was a purported letter notifying INEC that the presidential primary had been cancelled. Hashim’s lawyers questioned the document’s authenticity, arguing that it did not bear the party’s official stamp or imprimatur and raising questions about how it was received by the electoral commission.
Accord Party, through its counsel, T.W. Olusesi, maintained that the presidential primary had been cancelled and that no valid exercise was conducted to produce Hashim as its candidate. INEC’s counsel, D.J. Gusen, similarly argued that the commission did not monitor the exercise because it had received notification that the primary had been cancelled.
Justice Umar, however, rejected the objections and ruled that the evidence before the court established Hashim’s emergence as the party’s sole presidential candidate. The court also considered the fact that Accord had accepted ₦50 million from Hashim for expression of interest and nomination forms.
Hashim had further maintained that he was a registered and financially compliant member of Accord Party. He told the court that he contributed ₦7 million towards the party’s electronic membership registration programme and paid the prescribed ₦50 million nomination fee. He also maintained that INEC officials monitored the May 30 primary.
The dispute had lasted for months, with Hashim arguing that Accord’s failure to submit his name violated the Electoral Act 2026, the 1999 Constitution and applicable INEC regulations and guidelines. He had asked the court, among other reliefs, to direct the party to forward his name to INEC or, alternatively, order a fresh presidential primary in which he would participate.
The ruling now provides a judicial determination of the immediate dispute over Accord’s presidential nomination and directs the party to take steps toward placing Hashim’s candidacy on the official electoral process.
Hashim calls for reconciliation
Reacting to the judgment, Hashim dedicated the victory to God, party stakeholders, members and his legal team, while expressing appreciation to the judiciary for what he described as justice in the matter.
He also called for reconciliation among party members and stakeholders, urging them to put their differences behind them and work together ahead of the 2027 elections.
“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.”
Hashim added that the development marked the beginning of what he described as a march towards a “New Nigeria.”
The judgment is expected to shape Accord Party’s immediate preparations for the 2027 elections, particularly regarding the submission and recognition of its presidential candidate.
