Oyo 2027: Court Adjourns Suit Challenging Accord Governorship Ticket

The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has adjourned a suit challenging the emergence of Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat as the governorship candidate of the Accord Party for the 2027 election.

The case, filed by Olakunle Busari, has been adjourned until September 30, 2026, following a disagreement over the legal representation of the Accord Party.

Justice Uche Agomoh adjourned the matter on Monday after the proceedings could not proceed as scheduled due to the appearance of different lawyers claiming to represent the party.

The suit, marked FHC/IB/CS/97/26, was instituted by Busari through his counsel, Tunji Ogunrinde, SAN.

Busari is asking the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove Hamzat’s name from its portal as Accord’s governorship candidate.

He is also seeking an order compelling INEC to recognise and replace Hamzat’s name with his own, claiming that he is the authentic and rightful governorship candidate of the party in Oyo State.

The suit is coming against the backdrop of an unresolved leadership crisis within the Accord Party and a dispute over its governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election.

Speaking after Monday’s proceedings, Ogunrinde said the court directed the parties to resolve the issue surrounding the conflicting legal representations before the substantive matter could be heard.

He explained that an application before the court could not be taken because different lawyers appeared and claimed to be representing the Accord Party.

Reacting to the development, the party’s state Secretary, Dairo Olayinka, expressed surprise at the appearance of another lawyer, saying the party executives had already appointed counsel and issued a letter authorising the lawyer to represent its interests.

Similarly, the party’s South-West leader, Mogaji Igbinsola Sunday, described the development as an attempt to delay the proceedings.

He maintained that the issue of legal representation should be resolved before the next adjourned date to enable the court to proceed with the substantive issues raised in the suit.

The court has consequently fixed September 30, 2026, for further proceedings.