Accord asks court to dismiss secretary’s suit against 2027 candidates

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

Accord Party has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit filed by its National Secretary, Adebukola Ajaja, seeking the disqualification of all its candidates for the 2027 general elections.

In a preliminary objection filed through its lawyer, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), the party challenged the competence of the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CV/2524/2026, arguing that it was filed outside the 14-day period it said applied to the action.

The party, listed as the second defendant, also challenged Ajaja’s standing to institute the case, contending that she was not an aspirant in the May 29 primary election.

It argued that the dispute concerned candidate nomination, which it described as an internal party affair outside the court’s jurisdiction, and that the candidates whose nominations Ajaja sought to nullify had not been joined in the suit to enable them to be heard.

Accord further contended that the action was premature because Ajaja did not give the party the 21-day pre-action notice it said was required.

The party maintained that its primaries complied with the relevant laws and guidelines and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had recognised the outcome and received its candidates’ names in the prescribed format.

On Ajaja’s complaint that she did not sign the forwarding letter, Accord argued that its National Chairman and National Organising Secretary could validly sign and submit candidates’ lists and forms to INEC when the National Secretary was unavailable.

It relied on Article 18 of its constitution and Regulations 25(3) and 28(2) of INEC’s guidelines in support of its position.

“INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties did not in any way specify that the plaintiff herein must sign the forwarding letter, neither did the Constitution of the second defendant require her to sign,” the party said.

It added that its National Executive had expressly authorised the National Organising Secretary to co-sign with the National Chairman, insisting that “no wrong has been done.”

Relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Jegede v. INEC, Accord further argued that the National Chairman’s signature alone would have been sufficient.

In a counter-affidavit, National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, denied Ajaja’s claim that the National Organising Secretary had usurped her responsibilities, alleging instead that she had abandoned them and missed three consecutive National Working Committee meetings.

Mgbudem also disputed her account of the number of cases arising from the primaries, saying at least 16 suits had been filed.

He said Article 18(1) of the party’s constitution empowered him, as its chief executive, to sign documents on its behalf unless the National Executive Council or Convention decided otherwise, while Article 18(1)(v) allowed him to assign specific functions to members or officers.

According to him, the National Working Committee met on May 24, 2026, and resolved that he and the National Organising Secretary, Ibe Kenechukwu ThankGod, should co-sign the forwarding letter for successful aspirants.

Mgbudem said they subsequently submitted the names of successful candidates to INEC electronically after the primaries had been concluded.

He added that the party conducted primaries for the elective positions it intended to contest, but held none for the presidential election, and maintained that electronic submission of INEC forms, apart from the forwarding letters, did not require physical signatures.