The Federal High Court in Abuja has pushed back the hearing date to Wednesday for a legal challenge brought by Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim. The suit aims to force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept him as the Accord Party’s official presidential nominee for the 2027 election.
Justice Mohammed Umar moved the proceeding after the plaintiff’s lawyer, Henry Akunebu (SAN), requested additional time to review documents provided by INEC. The lawsuit names both the Accord Party and INEC as defendants. Dr. Olawepo-Hashim argues that after winning the party’s primary on May 30, 2026, as the only candidate, the party failed to register his name with the election commission. He contends this omission violates the Electoral Act of 2026 and the 1999 Constitution.
The plaintiff is requesting a court order to compel the Accord Party to submit his name. If that is not granted, he seeks an alternative ruling that would mandate the party to hold a new primary election for his participation. In his filing, Olawepo-Hashim stated he paid a ₦50 million nomination fee and contributed ₦7 million toward the party’s electronic membership drive. His counsel maintains that political organizations must follow established laws and INEC guidelines, asserting that the party has a legal duty to forward the name of a primary winner to the commission.
