FHC Abuja: Accord Party 2027 Candidate Disqualification Suit Filed

• A lawsuit, FHC/ABJ/CS/2524/2026, has been filed in Abuja seeking to disqualify all Accord Party candidates for the 2027 general elections.
• Adebukola Ajaja, an Accord Party member, alleges that the National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, and National Organising Secretary, ThankGod Kenechukwu, improperly submitted candidate lists to INEC.
• The suit contends that under Electoral Act 2026 Sections 29 and 82 and INEC Regulations Political Parties 2026, only the National Chairman and National Secretary are authorized to jointly sign and submit candidate documents.
• The applicant seeks a court order to nullify the candidate letters and forms submitted by Mgbudem and Kenechukwu, citing non-compliance with electoral laws.
• A successful outcome for the plaintiff could result in the disqualification of all Accord Party candidates from the upcoming 2027 general elections.

Lawyers advising political parties or candidates must meticulously review and ensure strict compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC Regulations regarding candidate submission procedures, particularly the authorized signatories for official documents.

A lawsuit has been initiated at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the disqualification of all Accord Party candidates for the upcoming 2027 general elections. The action, identified by suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2524/2026, was filed on October 21, 2026, by Adebukola Ajaja, a member of the Accord Party, represented by her legal counsel, Edmund Biriomoni. This significant Accord Party 2027 candidate disqualification suit names the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the first respondent, followed by the Accord Party itself, its National Chairman Maxwell Mgbudem, and National Organising Secretary ThankGod Kenechukwu as the second, third, and fourth respondents, respectively.

The crux of the applicant's claim centers on an alleged usurpation of her official duties as the National Secretary of the Accord Party. According to court filings, Ms. Ajaja contends that Mr. Mgbudem and Mr. Kenechukwu improperly took over her responsibilities concerning the submission of the party's list of candidates to INEC. Specifically, the lawsuit challenges the validity of letters captioned "submission of Accords Party Candidates EC9 Series Forms for 2027 General Election" dated June 30, 2026, July 19, 2026, and August 5, 2026, along with associated forms EC9(A) through EC9(E), which were jointly signed and submitted by the National Chairman and National Organising Secretary.

The legal challenge brought by Adebukola Ajaja hinges on specific provisions within the Electoral Act 2026 and the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2026, alongside the Accord Party's own constitution. The applicant seeks a judicial declaration affirming the supremacy and binding nature of Article 2 of the Accord Party Constitution on all party members and organs. More critically, the suit argues that a combined reading of Sections 29(1) & (2) and 82(1) & (6) of the Electoral Act, 2026, together with Articles 11(1) & (2), 12(2), 27(3), and 30(1) & (2) of the INEC Regulations, unequivocally designates only the National Chairman and National Secretary of a political party as the authorized signatories for jointly submitting candidate letters and forms to INEC.

Consequently, the lawsuit asserts that Maxwell Mgbudem, as National Chairman, and ThankGod Kenechukwu, as National Organising Secretary, lacked the legal authority to jointly sign and submit the aforementioned candidate documents. The applicant is therefore requesting the court to declare these submissions invalid and to issue a perpetual injunction setting aside and nullifying the letters and forms. This request is predicated on the argument that the submissions represent a flagrant non-compliance with Sections 29(1) & (2) and 82(1) & (6) of the Electoral Act, 2026, as well as Articles 10(3), 11(2), 24(3), and 28(2) of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2026, rendering them null and void. The case highlights the strict procedural requirements for Nigeria political party candidate submission.

This Accord Party 2027 candidate disqualification suit carries significant implications not only for the Accord Party but also for the broader electoral landscape in Nigeria. Should the court rule in favor of Adebukola Ajaja, the potential outcome is the disqualification of all Accord Party candidates from participating in the 2027 general elections. This would effectively cripple the party's electoral ambitions due to a procedural misstep in the candidate submission process, underscoring the critical importance of strict adherence to established legal frameworks and internal party protocols.

The case serves as a stark reminder to all political parties and their legal advisors about the meticulous attention required for compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and the INEC Regulations Political Parties 2026. The specific focus on authorized signatories for official documents, as detailed in this Adebukola Ajaja Accord Party lawsuit, demonstrates that even seemingly administrative details can have profound consequences, potentially invalidating an entire slate of candidates. Lawyers advising political parties or candidates must meticulously review and ensure strict compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC Regulations regarding candidate submission procedures, particularly the authorized signatories for official documents. Failure to adhere to these internal and external rules, as highlighted by this suit, can lead to the disqualification of all party candidates, posing significant electoral risks.

Lawyers advising political parties or candidates must meticulously review and ensure strict compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC Regulations regarding candidate submission procedures, particularly the authorized signatories for official documents. Failure to adhere to these internal and external rules, as highlighted by this suit, can lead to the disqualification of all party candidates, posing significant electoral risks.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspapers.