The crisis within 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 development has intensified the political and legal contest within……
The crisis within 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 development has intensified the political and legal contest within the party, particularly over its leadership structure, presidential ticket and the authority to nominate candidates.
Olawepo, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and regarded in political circles as an ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, reportedly joined Accord through the faction associated with Maxwell and Adeleke in pursuit of the party’s presidential ticket.
He subsequently approached the court seeking recognition of his candidacy, leading to the latest judgment directing INEC to recognise him as Accord’s presidential candidate.
The ruling comes against the backdrop of a decision by the Maxwell-Adeleke faction to submit no presidential candidate to INEC.
According to a statement by an Accord member, Jagunmolu Moses, the decision was interpreted in some political circles as an indication of support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The development has now raised questions about the political calculations behind that decision and whether any expectations of political reciprocity were attached to the reported alignment.
However, those questions remain matters of political interpretation unless supported by evidence of any formal agreement or understanding between the parties involved.
Court Battle May Continue
The latest judgment may not bring an immediate end to the dispute, as the affected faction could seek to challenge the decision through the appellate courts.
An appeal would further prolong the legal contest over the party’s presidential ticket and could raise additional questions about which faction has the legitimate authority to nominate candidates on behalf of Accord.
INEC’s actions will also be guided by applicable electoral laws and any valid court orders arising from the ongoing litigation.
Leadership Dispute Remains Unresolved
Beyond the presidential ticket, the broader leadership crisis within Accord remains unresolved.
Competing claims involving the Maxwell faction and the Professor Chris Imumolen faction are still before the courts, with the central issue being who has the legitimate authority to control the party structure and make binding decisions on its behalf.
The outcome of that dispute could have significant implications for the validity of decisions taken by the competing factions, including candidate nominations ahead of the 2027 elections.
Implications for 2027
The latest development has also raised concerns about the possibility of further legal disputes over Accord’s appearance on the 2027 presidential ballot.
If a court-recognised candidate emerges but questions remain over the party’s legitimate leadership or nomination process, further litigation could follow, depending on subsequent court rulings and INEC’s decisions.
For now, the Accord crisis has evolved beyond a dispute over a single presidential candidate. It has become a broader contest involving party leadership, candidate nomination, legal authority and political strategy.
While the courts will ultimately determine the legal questions, the political consequences of the latest development are likely to become clearer as the 2027 general election approaches.
