Court Ruling Clears Way for Accord Party Candidate as Questions Emerge Over INEC Electoral Operations Appointment
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to include Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim of the Accord Party on the official list of presidential candidates for the 2027 general election, bringing the number of candidates to 19.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this in Abuja during an event organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA). He said the commission would comply with a Federal High Court judgment directing the Accord Party to recognise Hashim as its presidential candidate and submit his name to INEC.
The ruling, delivered on October 5, 2026, followed months of internal disagreement over the party’s presidential ticket. INEC is expected to update its official records to reflect the court’s decision.
Speaking on preparations for the 2027 elections, Amupitan described the exercise as a major logistical undertaking, citing more than 103 million registered voters, 176,846 polling units and 774 local government areas across the country.
The elections will cover the presidency, National Assembly, governorship and State Houses of Assembly.
Odinkalu Questions Reported INEC Appointment
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu has raised questions about the reported appointment of Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi to head INEC’s Electoral Operations Department at its headquarters in Abuja.
Odinkalu commented on the matter on October 18 following a report by Leadership concerning concerns reportedly raised by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) over staff redeployments within the commission.
Adeyemi-Showunmi was reportedly transferred from her former position as Administrative Secretary at INEC’s Lagos office to head Electoral Operations. Isah Magaji Gummi, who previously occupied the position, was reportedly redeployed to the Voter Registry Department.
The appointment has attracted attention because Adeyemi-Showunmi is married to Segun Showunmi, a political commentator and former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s 2019 presidential campaign. Showunmi has since publicly expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
However, these personal and political connections do not, on their own, establish that Adeyemi-Showunmi is compromised or that INEC intends to favour any candidate.
The central issue is whether the commission can demonstrate that the appointment was based on professional considerations and that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect its independence and impartiality.
Importance of Electoral Operations
INEC’s Electoral Operations Department is responsible for key aspects of election planning, including the distribution of election materials, recruitment and training of ad hoc personnel, polling arrangements and coordination involving collation and returning officers.
Although the department’s head does not independently determine election results, the role carries significant operational responsibilities, making transparency around senior appointments an important matter of public interest ahead of the 2027 elections.
As preparations continue, INEC faces the dual task of implementing court decisions on candidate nominations and maintaining public confidence in the neutrality, transparency and credibility of the electoral process.