The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the Accord Party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election and ordered the party to immediately recognise his nomination and submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
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Justice Mohammed Umar delivered the judgment on Monday, October 5, 2026, resolving the dispute over the party’s refusal to recognise Olawepo-Hashim following its May 30 presidential primary.
The judge held that the evidence established that Olawepo-Hashim emerged as the party’s sole presidential candidate, contrary to Accord’s position that it had not conducted a presidential primary.
He consequently directed the party to forward Olawepo-Hashim’s name to INEC for acceptance and uploading onto its nomination portal.
The court also faulted Accord’s failure to recognise the plaintiff after collecting ₦50 million from him for its expression of interest and nomination forms.
Olawepo-Hashim instituted the action through his lawyer, Henry Akunaebu, SAN, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1268/2026, naming Accord and INEC as the first and second defendants, respectively.
He asked the court to compel the party to recognise him as its validly nominated presidential candidate and transmit his name to the electoral commission.
The dispute centred on whether the May 30 primary produced a valid nomination and whether Accord could subsequently withhold the plaintiff’s name from INEC.
During the proceedings, Olawepo-Hashim’s counsel challenged a letter presented as evidence that the presidential primary had been cancelled. He questioned its authenticity, pointing to the absence of the party’s official stamp and the circumstances surrounding its receipt.
Those objections formed part of the plaintiff’s argument that the documents relied upon to oppose his nomination should be rejected.
Olawepo-Hashim also sought an alternative order directing Accord to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he could participate if the court declined to uphold his nomination.
In his supporting affidavit, he described himself as a registered and financial member of the party. He said he contributed ₦7 million towards its electronic membership registration and paid the ₦50 million presidential nomination fee.
He maintained that he was the sole aspirant at the primary and that INEC officials monitored the exercise, but accused the party of failing to submit his name afterwards.
Monday’s judgment upheld his principal claim, directing recognition and submission of his nomination rather than a fresh primary.
The decision follows earlier hearings in the case, including proceedings in July when the court reserved judgment after considering the parties’ arguments.
The immediate consequence is that Accord must take the steps ordered by the court to transmit Olawepo-Hashim’s nomination to INEC. The reports reviewed did not establish that his name had already been uploaded following the judgment
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