The Federal High Court in Abuja has set July 14, 2026, as the new date to hear the lawsuit brought forward by Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim. The Accord Party presidential hopeful is petitioning the court to confirm his status as the official candidate for the upcoming 2027 general election.
Olawepo-Hashim filed the suit against the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He contends that his name was improperly excluded from the list submitted to the commission following his victory at the primary election held on May 30, 2026. The plaintiff argues that the party’s failure to recognize his win violates the 2026 Electoral Act, party rules, and established INEC guidelines.
Represented by Chief Henry Akunebu (SAN), the plaintiff is demanding that the court either mandate the party to submit his name to the electoral body or require the party to hold a new primary election where he can compete. During the recent court session, legal representatives for both the Accord Party and INEC requested more time to prepare their responses. Despite objections from the plaintiff’s legal team, the presiding judge granted the adjournment until mid-July to allow for a substantive hearing.
