Court Reserves Judgment on Olawepo-Hashim's Candidacy Suit

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has reserved judgment on a suit filed by Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim against the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The suit seeks an order compelling the Accord Party to recognize Olawepo-Hashim as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections and to forward his name to INEC.

The presiding judge, Justice Moham Umar, will communicate the judgment date to the parties involved when ready. During the proceedings, counsel for the plaintiff, Henri Akunebu SAN, urged the court to direct the Accord Party to immediately forward Olawepo-Hashim's name to INEC, arguing that the party's documents, particularly a letter purportedly canceling the party's primary, lacked the official stamp and imprimatur required by INEC.

This legal challenge highlights ongoing disputes within political parties regarding candidate nominations ahead of the upcoming elections.