Court declares Olawepo-Hashim Accord’s presidential candidate, orders INEC to upload his name

The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the Accord Party’s presidential candidate for Nigeria’s 2027 election.

According to The ICIR, Justice Mohammed Umar ruled on Monday that evidence showed Olawepo-Hashim emerged as the party’s sole presidential candidate following its May 30 primary.

The judge ordered Accord to immediately recognise Olawepo-Hashim and forward his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission for uploading on its portal.

Umar held that the party was wrong to refuse to recognise him after collecting N50 million for nomination and expression-of-interest forms.

Olawepo-Hashim had sued Accord and INEC, asking the court to compel the party to submit his name as its validly nominated candidate.

The suit, filed through his lawyer, Henry Akunaebu, SAN, was marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1268/2026.

INEC has scheduled Nigeria’s presidential election for January 16, 2027, making the ruling significant ahead of the poll.