2027: Hashim seeks unity as court affirms him Accord presidential candidate

• Orders party to upload his name to INEC portal

Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has called for reconciliation among Accord Party stakeholders after the Federal High Court in Abuja affirmed him as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election and ordered the submission of his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice Mohammed Umar, in his judgment on Monday, dismissed the preliminary objections to Hashim’s suit and rejected a purported letter notifying INEC of the cancellation of the party’s May 30, 2026 presidential primary.

The court ordered Accord to upload Hashim’s name to INEC’s nomination portal, recognising his emergence from the primary.

Reacting to the judgment, Hashim urged party members to close ranks and work together for victory, saying the ruling should provide an opportunity for reconciliation.

“We won’t leave anybody behind. We should all come together and work for the party’s victory in the January 16, 2027 presidential election and all other elections. The march to a New Nigeria has started,” he said.

Hashim dedicated the victory to God, party members, stakeholders and his legal team, while expressing appreciation to the judiciary.

“I give God the glory for this victory. I dedicate the victory also to all stakeholders and our dear party members and my hardworking legal team. We are grateful to the judiciary that has done justice on this matter,” he said.

Hashim had approached the court seeking recognition as Accord’s duly nominated presidential candidate, maintaining that he was the sole aspirant and winner of the May 30 primary.
His counsel, Henry Akunebu, SAN, urged the court to compel the party to recognise his emergence and forward his name to INEC.

Akunebu challenged the validity and evidential value of documents relied upon to dispute Hashim’s nomination, particularly the purported letter communicating the cancellation of the primary.

He argued that the letter lacked the party’s official stamp and imprimatur and questioned the circumstances surrounding its receipt by INEC.

Accord’s counsel, T.W. Olusesi, maintained that the presidential primary had been cancelled and that no valid exercise produced Hashim as the party’s candidate.

Counsel for INEC, D.J. Gusen, similarly argued that the commission did not monitor the primary because it had received notification that the exercise had been cancelled.

Hashim, however, maintained that INEC officials monitored the May 30 primary at which he emerged as the sole aspirant.
Justice Umar dismissed the preliminary objections and rejected the purported cancellation letter before affirming Hashim’s candidacy and directing the party to submit his name.

The judgment followed a dispute over Accord’s failure to forward Hashim’s nomination to INEC despite his insistence that he had won the presidential primary.

In his originating summons, Hashim asked the court to determine whether the party could validly refuse to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal after a primary in which he emerged as the winner.

He argued that the refusal violated the Constitution, Electoral Act 2026 and relevant INEC regulations and guidelines governing the nomination of candidates.

Hashim also maintained that he was a registered and financially compliant member of Accord, had paid the prescribed ₦50 million presidential nomination fee and contributed ₦7 million towards the party’s electronic membership registration programme.

As an alternative relief, he had sought an order directing Accord to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would be allowed to participate.

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