Court Affirms Gbenga Olawepo Hashim as Accord Party’s 2027 Presidential Candidate

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has affirmed Dr. Gbenga Olawepo Hashim as the presidential candidate of the Accord Party for the 2027 presidential election, bringing a major legal dispute over the party’s presidential ticket to a judicial determination.

Justice Mohammed Umar, in a judgment delivered on Monday, dismissed preliminary objections filed against Hashim’s suit and rejected a purported letter used to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the party’s presidential primary had been cancelled.

The court subsequently ordered the Accord Party to upload Hashim’s name to the INEC nomination portal as its presidential candidate, effectively recognising his emergence from the party’s presidential primary held on May 30, 2026.

How the Dispute Began

Hashim had approached the court seeking recognition as the duly nominated presidential candidate of the Accord Party.

His case was that he was the sole aspirant at the May 30 primary and, having emerged from the exercise, the party was legally obligated to recognise his nomination and forward his name to INEC.

His legal team, led by Henry Akunebu, SAN, challenged the documents relied upon by those disputing his emergence, particularly a purported letter informing INEC that the primary had been cancelled.

Akunebu questioned the authenticity and evidential value of the document, arguing that it did not carry the official stamp or imprimatur of the party. He also challenged the circumstances under which the document came into INEC’s possession.

The legal challenge therefore centred on a crucial question: could the Accord Party invalidate the primary after the exercise had been conducted and subsequently refuse to submit the name of the person who emerged from it?

Party, INEC Disputed the Primary

Counsel to the Accord Party, T.W. Olusesi, maintained that the presidential primary had been cancelled and argued that no valid primary had therefore been conducted to produce Hashim as the party’s candidate.

INEC’s counsel, D.J. Gusen, similarly told the court that the commission did not monitor the purported May 30 primary because it had received notification that the exercise had been cancelled.

Hashim’s legal team disputed that position, maintaining that the primary was valid and that INEC officials were present to monitor the exercise.

Justice Umar ultimately dismissed the preliminary objections and rejected the purported cancellation letter, clearing the way for the court to recognise the outcome of the May 30 primary.

Hashim’s Case Before the Court

The dispute had remained unresolved for months after Hashim alleged that the Accord Party refused to submit his name to INEC despite his emergence from the primary.

In his originating summons, Hashim asked the court to determine whether the party could lawfully refuse to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal after a primary election at which he emerged as the winner.

He also sought, in the alternative, an order directing the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would be permitted to participate.

Hashim maintained throughout the proceedings that he was a registered member of the Accord Party and had fulfilled the financial requirements for the presidential nomination.

He told the court that he paid the prescribed ?50 million presidential nomination fee and contributed another ?7 million to the party’s electronic membership registration programme.

He also maintained that INEC officials monitored the May 30 primary, at which he emerged as the sole aspirant.

What the Judgment Means

The court’s decision provides a judicial resolution to the immediate dispute over the Accord Party’s 2027 presidential ticket.

The order directing the party to upload Hashim’s name to INEC places his candidacy within the formal electoral process, subject to the applicable electoral and regulatory requirements.

The judgment also represents a setback to the position that the May 30 primary was cancelled and could not produce a valid presidential candidate.

However, the wider political implications of the ruling will depend on how the Accord Party responds and whether any further legal steps are pursued.

Hashim Calls for Reconciliation

Reacting to the judgment, Hashim dedicated the outcome to God, the party’s stakeholders and members, as well as his legal team.

He also called for unity within the party and urged members to put the dispute behind them.

“We won’t leave anybody behind…We should all come together and work for the party’s victory in the January 16, 2027 presidential election and all other elections. The march to a New Nigeria has started,” Hashim said.

The ruling now places the focus on the Accord Party’s next steps and its compliance with the court’s directive as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.