Court Adjourns Accord Presidential Ticket Suit to Wednesday as Supporters Rally Behind Gbenga Hashim

By Ayobami Agboola

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday adjourned until Wednesday the suit filed by a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Accord Party, Dr. Gbenga Hashim, seeking judicial affirmation as the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The adjournment came after counsel to the defendants—the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)—served fresh court processes on Hashim’s legal team shortly before the commencement of proceedings.

Counsel to the plaintiff informed the court that the documents had only just been received and requested time to study and respond to the new filings before the substantive hearing could proceed.

The trial judge subsequently adjourned the matter until 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday for hearing.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Accord Party members and supporters gathered at the court premises in Abuja in solidarity with Hashim ahead of the hearing.

The supporters accompanied the presidential aspirant to the court and remained at the venue throughout the proceedings.

At the centre of the legal dispute is Hashim’s claim that he validly emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of the Accord Party’s presidential primary. He is asking the court to declare him the party’s lawful presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Hashim also wants the court to compel the Accord Party to forward his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), arguing that he was duly affirmed at the party’s presidential primary.

In the alternative, the plaintiff is seeking an order directing the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary should the court decline to grant his principal relief.

According to court filings, Hashim maintains that he fulfilled all constitutional and statutory requirements for the nomination process, including the payment of the party’s ₦50 million nomination fee.

He also contends that the presidential primary was monitored by officials of INEC.

The case is expected to continue on Wednesday when the court will hear the substantive arguments of the parties