Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has filed a lawsuit against the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its failure to recognize him as the party's presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled July 14, 2026, for the hearing of the suit. Olawepo-Hashim claims he emerged as the sole candidate and winner of the party's presidential primary held on May 30, 2026, but the party did not upload his name to INEC's nomination portal. He argues that this action violates the Electoral Act 2026, the Nigerian Constitution, and INEC's guidelines.
In the suit, he seeks a court declaration that the Accord Party breached the law by refusing to forward his name. He also wants an order compelling the party to submit his name to INEC. As an alternative, he is asking the court to direct the party to conduct a fresh primary in which he would be allowed to participate. Olawepo-Hashim stated in an affidavit that he is a registered and financially active member of the party, having contributed ₦7 million to its electronic membership registration programme and paid the ₦50 million nomination fee. He said INEC officials monitored the primary, and he participated based on assurances from party leadership despite not receiving official guidelines for the process.
His lawyer, Henry Akunebu (SAN), argued that political parties are legally bound to submit the winner of a valid primary election to INEC. INEC's lawyer, H.S. Danjuma, requested more time to file the commission's response, which Justice Mohammed Umar granted. The judge accepted INEC's documents as properly filed after the commission explained its legal team was only instructed on July 6. Although the Accord Party did not oppose the request, Olawepo-Hashim's legal team urged the court to bar INEC from participating due to delayed response. The case may clarify how the Electoral Act 2026 applies to candidate nominations and could affect internal party democracy before the 2027 election.
A party that accepted ₦50 million from Olawepo-Hashim for a primary it now refuses to validate raises questions about its financial accountability and candidate selection process. The court case tests whether paying for nomination translates into enforceable rights when the party leadership appears to disregard the outcome. If the court rules in his favor, it could set a precedent for aspirants challenging party decisions based on procedural compliance. The outcome will directly affect how political parties manage internal elections and financial obligations to members.
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