Court Reserves Judgment on Olawepo-Hashim's Candidacy Suit

On Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja reserved judgment on a suit brought by Accord Party chieftain Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim. He is seeking an order to compel the Accord Party to recognize him as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections and to submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice Moham Umar fixed a date for judgment after counsel for Olawepo-Hashim, Henri Akunebu, urged the court to direct the party to immediately upload his name to INEC's nomination portal. Akunebu argued that the party's failure to submit his name violated the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC guidelines.

He claimed that Olawepo-Hashim emerged as the sole winner of the presidential primary held on May 30. However, counsel for the Accord Party, T.W.

Olusesi, insisted that the primary was validly canceled and that no aspirants purchased nomination forms. INEC's counsel, D.J.

Gusen, supported the party's position, stating that the commission did not monitor the canceled primary.