Court reserves judgment in Accord presidential ticket dispute
Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the Accord party to recognise him as its presidential candidate and submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission. The court has reserved its judgment, with the date to be communicated to the parties. Olawepo-Hashim claims he was the sole winner of the party’s presidential primaries and alleges the party failed to forward his name to INEC. The party and INEC argue that the primaries were cancelled and the process was not monitored.
Key takeaways
- Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim seeks a court order to be recognised as Accord’s presidential candidate and to have his name submitted to INEC.
- His counsel, Henry Akunebu (SAN), challenged the authenticity of documents presented by the party and INEC regarding the cancellation of the primaries.
- The party’s lawyer, T.W. Olusesi, insists the primaries were cancelled as no aspirant purchased nomination forms or participated.
- INEC’s counsel, D.J. Gusen, supported the party’s position, stating the commission did not monitor the exercise due to its cancellation.
- Olawepo-Hashim claims to have paid N50m as a nomination fee and funded the party’s electronic membership registration, asserting he was the sole winner of the primary.
