2027: Gbenga Hashim Urges All Hands On Deck As Court Affirms His Candidacy, Orders INEC To Upload His Name

The Federal High Court, Abuja has affirmed Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as presidential candidate of Accord Party for the 2027 presidential election.

The court’s declaration, on Monday, brings a major legal dispute over the party’s presidential ticket to a decisive conclusion.

Justice Mohammed Umar, in his ruling, dismissed the preliminary objections filed against Hashim’s suit and rejected the purported letter relied upon to communicate the cancellation of the party’s presidential primary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the court also ordered the Accord Party to send Hashim’s name to INEC as its presidential candidate, effectively recognizing him as winner of the party’s presidential primary held on May 30, 2026.

Hashim had approached the court seeking recognition as the duly nominated presidential candidate of Accord Party, asserting that he was the sole aspirant and winner of the May 30, 2026 primary.

Hashim’s case was argued by Henry Akunebu, SAN; who urged the court to compel the party to recognise him and forward his name to INEC.

Akunebu had challenged the validity and evidential value of documents relied upon to dispute Hashim’s emergence, particularly a purported letter notifying INEC of the cancellation of the presidential primary.

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

Accord’s position was represented by T.W. Olusesi, who maintained that the presidential primary had been cancelled and that no valid primary had produced Hashim as the party’s candidate.

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

Justice Umar, however, dismissed the preliminary objections, rejected the purported cancellation letter and recognized the outcome of the May 30 primary.

The judgment follows months of legal contest over the Accord Party presidential ticket and the party’s failure to submit Hashim’s name to INEC despite his claim that he had emerged as the winner of the primary.

Hashim had argued that the party’s refusal to officially recognize him as presidential candidate violated the Constitution, Electoral Act 2026 and relevant INEC regulations and guidelines guiding the nomination of candidates by political parties.

In his originating summons, he asked the court to determine whether Accord Party could validly refuse to send his name to INEC for onward upload to its nomination portal after the conduct of a primary in which he had emerged as the winner.

He had also sought, in the alternative, an order directing the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would be allowed to participate.

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

He also maintained that INEC officials monitored the May 30 primary where he emerged as the sole aspirant.

In his reaction to the ruling, Hashim dedicated the victory to God, urged all hands on deck and called for reconciliation among stakeholders and other party members.

‘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. 

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 .

The order provides a judicial resolution to the immediate dispute over the party’s presidential nomination and places Hashim’s candidacy on the official electoral process-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you