By Ayodele Oni
Candidates contesting next year’s general elections on the ticket of Accord Party are faced with fresh legal tango, following a suit asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to invalidate the party’s submissions to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
The suit was filed by Adebukola Ajaja, a member of the party who alleges that her responsibilities as its National Secretary were usurped during the submission of candidates’ particulars to INEC.
Ajaja instituted the action on October 21, 2026, through her lawyer, Edmund Biriomoni.
The defendants are INEC, Accord Party, its National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, and National Organising Secretary, ThankGod Kenechukwu.
In the suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/2524/2026, the plaintiff challenged the authority under which the party’s candidate lists and related nomination documents were signed and submitted to the electoral commission.
She argued that the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC’s regulations and guidelines prescribe the officials authorised to sign and submit such documents.
According to the court filings, Ajaja maintained that the National Chairman and National Secretary were required to jointly sign the relevant correspondence and forms submitted to INEC.
She contended that Mgbudem and Kenechukwu could not lawfully perform that function in the manner complained of.
The documents under challenge include letters dated June 30, July 19 and August 5, 2026, relating to the submission of Accord Party candidates’ forms for the 2027 general elections.
The plaintiff asked the court to declare that the party’s constitution was binding on its members and organs and that the disputed submissions violated the applicable rules.
She also sought an order nullifying the letters and forms jointly signed by the party officials in question.
Among the reliefs sought is a declaration that the disputed submissions are invalid, null and void because of alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
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