The Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in a suit filed by Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him as the Accord Party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the matter for judgment on Wednesday after all parties adopted their final written addresses.

He said the date for the judgment would be communicated to the parties.

Olawepo-Hashim, through his lawyer, Henry Akunebu, SAN, asked the court to direct the Accord Party to immediately submit his name to INEC as its presidential candidate.

He argued that documents presented by the party and INEC, including a letter said to have cancelled the primary election that produced him, should not be relied upon by the court.

According to him, the documents lacked the party’s official stamp and contained other irregularities, which he said raised doubts about their authenticity.

The plaintiff also challenged the party’s computer-generated membership register tendered before the court, insisting that it did not meet the legal requirements for admissibility.

He maintained that the Accord Party never cancelled the presidential primary election and urged the court to compel the party to forward his name to INEC.

However, the Accord Party asked the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the presidential primary had been validly cancelled because no aspirant purchased nomination forms or participated in the exercise.

The party also maintained that INEC did not monitor the primary because it had already been cancelled.

INEC equally urged the court to dismiss the suit, stating that it did not monitor the alleged primary election because it had been cancelled by the party.

In the suit, Olawepo-Hashim is seeking a declaration that the party’s refusal to submit his name to INEC violated the Electoral Act 2026, the Constitution and INEC’s guidelines.

He is also asking the court, in the alternative, to order the Accord Party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would be allowed to participate if his request to be recognised as the party’s candidate is declined.

The Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, on Wednesday adjourned indefinitely its judgment in two separate suits challenging the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections for two federal constituencies in the state.

The decision followed the conclusion of arguments by counsel representing the parties in the cases.

The presiding judge, Justice Mashkur Salisu, announced that judgment had been reserved and would be delivered on a date to be communicated to the parties.

The suits were instituted by Princess Leah Olusiyi Solomon and Job Julius, who are seeking the nullification of the APC primary elections conducted for the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing and Ardo-Kola/Karim Lamido/Lau Federal Constituencies, respectively.

Job Julius is challenging the party’s primary election for the Ardo-Kola/Karim Lamido/Lau Federal Constituency, while Princess Leah Olusiyi Solomon is contesting the primary election for the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency.

The plaintiffs alleged that the APC failed to conduct valid primary elections in the affected constituencies in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the party’s guidelines.

They argued that no lawful primary election took place and urged the court to declare the purported exercises null and void.

They further prayed the court to invalidate the outcomes of the alleged primaries and grant all consequential reliefs deemed appropriate.

Following the adoption of final written addresses by counsel to all the parties, Justice Salisu reserved judgment indefinitely, stating that the date for delivery would be communicated in due course.

The outcome of the cases is expected to determine the legitimacy of the APC’s nomination process for the two federal constituencies ahead of the forthcoming elections.

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress, APC, will retain power in the 2027 general elections, citing the party’s grassroots support and political structure across the state.
Radda stated this during the inauguration of the Tinubu/Dikko Women and Youth Centre for 2027, a campaign organisation initiated by former Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema.

“I have no doubt, no fear and no hesitation about our chances in the next election,” the governor said, expressing confidence in the party’s prospects ahead of the polls.

He said the APC would unveil its campaign programmes at the appropriate time and engage opposition parties during the official campaign period.

According to him, the campaign organisation, with structures across the 34 local government areas, wards and polling units in Katsina State, is expected to strengthen mobilisation among women, youths and other supporters.

Radda commended Shema for establishing the platform, describing it as an initiative that would further strengthen the party’s structure in the state.

Speaking at the event, Shema urged party members to support President Bola Tinubu, APC governors and other party candidates in future elections.

He also called for collective efforts to address insecurity, kidnapping and banditry, stressing that security challenges in one part of the country affect the nation as a whole.