Olawepo-Hashim Sues Accord Party Over Presidential Ticket

Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a chieftain of the Accord Party, has initiated legal proceedings against the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the party's presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections.

He is seeking a court order to compel the Accord Party to recognize him as its presidential candidate and to submit his name to INEC. The Federal High Court in Abuja has set a hearing date for July 14, 2026.

Olawepo-Hashim claims that despite emerging as the sole winner of the party's presidential primary on May 30, 2026, the Accord Party failed to upload his name to INEC's nomination portal, violating the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC's guidelines. He is requesting the court to declare the party's refusal to submit his name as a breach of the Electoral Act and to order the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary if necessary.

The case is expected to test the application of the Electoral Act 2026 and reinforce judicial scrutiny of internal party democracy ahead of the upcoming elections.