Presidential hopeful Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has instituted a legal action against the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeking judicial recognition as the party’s legitimate presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The suit, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenges the party’s position on his purported emergence as its presidential flag bearer and requests the court to compel INEC to acknowledge his nomination.
Olawepo-Hashim argued that he was duly nominated through a valid process and insisted that every requirement leading to his emergence as the party’s presidential candidate was fulfilled.
However, the Accord Party has distanced itself from the claim, maintaining that no valid presidential primary election was conducted to produce a candidate for the 2027 race. The party also disclosed that it refunded the ₦50 million paid by Olawepo-Hashim for the presidential nomination form, explaining that the payment was made after the deadline for the exercise had elapsed.
INEC was joined in the suit because it is the statutory body responsible for accepting and publishing the names of candidates nominated by political parties for elections.
The Federal High Court has fixed July 14, 2026, for the substantive hearing of the matter, where both parties are expected to present their arguments.
