The Federal High Court in Abuja has deferred its decision regarding a legal challenge initiated by Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim. He is pushing for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to acknowledge him as the official presidential nominee for the Accord Party for the 2027 polls. Justice Mohammed Umar announced the court’s decision to reserve judgment after listening to the final arguments from all legal representatives on Wednesday. A date for the final ruling will be provided to the involved parties at a later time.
Representing Olawepo-Hashim, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Henry Akunebu requested that the court mandate the Accord Party to file his name with INEC. Akunebu argued that documents citing the cancellation of the primary election lacked official stamps and contained inconsistencies that undermined their validity. Additionally, the plaintiff disputed the legitimacy of the party’s computer-generated membership list, suggesting it failed to satisfy standard legal criteria for evidence. Olawepo-Hashim maintains that the primary was never formally nullified.
Conversely, the Accord Party requested a dismissal, asserting the primary was legitimately cancelled because no candidate finalized the purchase of nomination forms. INEC supported this stance, noting they did not observe any primary election because they were notified of its cancellation. Olawepo-Hashim contends that the party’s refusal to submit his name contradicts the Electoral Act, the Constitution, and INEC regulations. As an alternative legal remedy, he has requested the court to force the Accord Party to hold a new primary election where he can compete.
