The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned to July 15, 2026, the suit filed by Accord Party chieftain Dr. Gbenga Olawepo Hashim seeking recognition as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election and an order directing the party to submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The adjournment followed the entry of INEC into the case after both the electoral body and the Accord Party served fresh court documents on the plaintiff’s legal team shortly before proceedings commenced.
Counsel to Hashim, Henry Akunebu, SAN, informed the court that the documents had only just been received and requested time to study and respond to them. Justice Mohammed Umar granted the request and fixed Wednesday, July 15, for the substantive hearing.
The case attracted a large number of Accord Party supporters, who gathered at the court premises and accompanied Hashim throughout the proceedings.
Hashim, who sued the Accord Party and INEC, is asking the court to determine whether the party’s refusal to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal despite emerging as the sole winner of the party’s May 30 presidential primary violates the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution, and INEC’s guidelines.
He is seeking a declaration that the party breached Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026 and Clauses 28(1) and 28(2) of the electoral guidelines by failing to submit his name to INEC. He also wants the court to compel the party to upload and forward his nomination.
Alternatively, Hashim is asking the court to order the Accord Party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would be allowed to participate if his nomination cannot be submitted.
In an affidavit supporting the suit, Hashim stated that he is a registered and financial member of the party, claiming he funded the party’s electronic membership drive with N7 million and paid the required N50 million nomination fee to contest the presidential primary.
He maintained that he emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of the primary, which he said was monitored by INEC officials in line with the Electoral Act. He alleged that despite his victory, the party failed to submit his name to the electoral commission and did not provide aspirants with the required guidelines before the primary.
Hashim’s lawyer argued that political parties are legally required to comply with the Electoral Act, their constitutions, and INEC regulations when nominating candidates. He urged the court to uphold internal party democracy by granting all the reliefs sought.
