A fresh legal battle has erupted within the Accord Party in Oyo State after a governorship aspirant, Hon. Olakunle Busari, asked the Federal High Court in Ibadan to nullify the emergence of media entrepreneur Oriyomi Hamzat as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
Busari, through his counsel, Tunji Ogunrinde (SAN), filed the suit marked FHC/IB/CS/97/26, seeking an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove Hamzat’s name from its nomination portal and replace it with his as the party’s authentic candidate.
The aspirant alleged that Hamzat’s name was secretly uploaded to INEC’s portal by a faction of the Accord Party leadership despite allegedly failing to participate in the party’s direct governorship primary conducted on May 26, 2026.
According to Busari, he secured the highest number of votes in the primary election and is therefore the rightful winner of the contest. He urged the court to compel INEC to recognise, accept and publish his name as the Accord Party’s valid governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
Beyond seeking recognition as the party’s flag bearer, Busari also asked the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining INEC from accepting or recognising Hamzat’s nomination or sponsorship as the Accord Party candidate in Oyo State.
He further requested an order preventing Hamzat from presenting himself as the party’s legitimate governorship candidate pending the resolution of the dispute.
The lawsuit places the internal nomination process of the Accord Party under judicial scrutiny, with the court expected to determine which aspirant emerged lawfully from the party’s governorship primary and whose candidature should be recognised by INEC ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The outcome of the case could significantly shape the Accord Party’s preparations for the Oyo governorship race, as political parties continue to position themselves ahead of the next general elections.
