The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, 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.
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.
Alternatively, he 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.
