The leadership crisis rocking the Accord Party has taken a fresh turn following a Federal High Court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and upload Hashim Olawepo as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. The judgment comes amid an unresolved leadership dispute within……
The leadership crisis rocking the Accord Party has taken a fresh turn following a Federal High Court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and upload Hashim Olawepo as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The judgment comes amid an unresolved leadership dispute within the party, with rival factions laying claim to control of the Accord structure and the authority to nominate candidates.
Olawapo, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party and regarded in political circles as an ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had approached the court seeking recognition of his candidacy.
The court has now ruled in his favour, setting the stage for a fresh legal and political contest among the competing factions within the party.
The development is particularly significant following reports that the faction associated with Maxwell and Adeleke did not submit a presidential candidate to INEC.
That decision had been interpreted in some political circles as a possible indication of support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
However, the emergence of Olawapo as a court-recognised candidate raises fresh questions about the political calculations surrounding the decision and the competing interests within the party.
Beyond the presidential ticket, the central issue remains the unresolved leadership crisis in Accord, with competing claims involving the Maxwell faction and the Professor Chris Imumolen faction still before the courts.
At the heart of the dispute is the question of who has the legitimate authority to control the party structure and nominate candidates on behalf of Accord.
The latest judgment could also face further legal scrutiny if it is appealed, potentially extending the dispute over the party’s leadership and 2027 candidates.
There could be additional controversy if a court-recognised presidential candidate is not reflected on the final ballot, depending on subsequent court orders and INEC’s actions.
The development therefore goes beyond an internal party dispute, with potential implications for Accord’s participation in the 2027 presidential election.
For now, the Accord crisis has evolved into a wider battle over party leadership, candidate nomination and political strategy, with the courts expected to play a decisive role in determining the legal outcome as the 2027 elections draw closer.
