Accord Party Fights Legal Challenge to Disqualify Candidates for 2027 Elections

The Accord Party has taken legal action to dismiss a lawsuit that aims to disqualify all its candidates for the 2027 general elections. The party filed its objection at the Federal High Court in Abuja, arguing that the court does not have the authority to hear the case.

According to the party, the lawsuit was filed too late, beyond the 14-day period allowed by law. They also claimed that the matter relates to the nomination of candidates, which is a private issue for political parties and should not be decided by a court.

The party pointed out that the person who filed the lawsuit is not an aspirant in their recent primary election, which took place on May 29. They noted that the candidates affected by the lawsuit were not included in the case, denying them a chance to defend themselves.

Accord Party described the lawsuit as “premature,” stating that the plaintiff did not provide the necessary notice before filing the case. They emphasized that their primary election followed all relevant laws and was recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The party also defended the actions of its leadership, stating that the National Chairman and the National Organising Secretary were authorized to submit the candidates’ list to INEC in the absence of the National Secretary. They referenced a previous Supreme Court ruling to support their position.

In a response to the claims made by the plaintiff, the party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, stated that the plaintiff had not been fulfilling her duties and had missed several important meetings. He asserted that he had the authority to sign documents on behalf of the party.