A member of the Accord Party, Adebukola Ajaja, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the disqualification of all candidates of the party for the 2027 general elections over alleged irregularities in the submission of their nomination documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The suit, filed on October 21, 2026, is challenging the validity of documents submitted to INEC by the party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, and National Organising Secretary, ThankGod Kenechukwu.
Ajaja, who claims to be the party’s National Secretary, argued that the two officials usurped her responsibilities in submitting the candidates’ lists and related forms to the electoral commission.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2524/2026, lists INEC, Accord Party, Mgbudem and Kenechukwu as the first to fourth respondents, respectively.
In her application, Ajaja asked the court to declare that the Accord Party constitution is binding on all members and organs of the party, arguing that the process followed in submitting its candidates’ documents must comply with the party’s constitution and relevant electoral laws.
She also relied on Sections 29(1) and (2), and 82(1) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2026, alongside provisions of INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2026.
The applicant argued that the National Chairman and National Secretary were the officials authorised to jointly sign and submit the party’s candidates’ nomination documents to INEC.
She consequently challenged letters dated June 30, July 19 and August 5, 2026, titled “Submission of Accord’s Party Candidates EC9 Series Forms for 2027 General Election”, as well as Forms EC9(A), EC9(B), EC9(C), EC9(D) and EC9(E), which she alleged were jointly signed by the National Chairman and National Organising Secretary.
Ajaja urged the court to set aside and nullify the documents, claiming they were submitted in violation of the Electoral Act and INEC’s guidelines.
She also sought an order of perpetual injunction invalidating the letters and nomination forms.
The suit raises questions about the authority of party officials to submit candidates’ nomination documents and the extent to which compliance with internal party rules and electoral regulations may affect participation in the 2027 elections.
The court’s decision on the claims could have implications for the Accord Party’s candidates, should the applicant’s requests be granted. However, the allegations remain claims before the court, and no ruling on the matter was reported in the account of the suit.
