Oyo 2027: Court adjourns Accord governorship suit

By Adejayan Gbenga

The Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, has adjourned a suit challenging the choice of the Accord Party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election until September 30, 2026.

Justice Uche Agomoh adjourned the case on Monday after proceedings were stalled by conflicting legal representations for the party.

The case, marked FHC/IB/CS/97/26, was filed by Olakunle Busari through his counsel, Tunji Ogunrinde, SAN. Busari is asking the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission to remove the name of Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, which he alleged was uploaded on the commission’s portal as the party’s governorship candidate.

Busari is also seeking an order compelling INEC to replace Hamzat’s name with his, claiming to be the authentic and rightful candidate of the Accord Party in Oyo State.

The suit is linked to the unresolved leadership crisis within the party and the dispute over its governorship ticket.

Speaking after the proceedings, Ogunrinde said the court directed the parties to resolve the disagreement over legal representation before the case could proceed. He said an application before the court could not be heard because different lawyers appeared claiming to represent the party.

The party’s state Secretary, Dairo Olayinka, expressed surprise at the appearance of another lawyer, saying the party executives had already appointed counsel and issued a letter authorising the lawyer to represent its interests.

Similarly, the party’s South-West leader, Mogaji Igbinsola Sunday, described the development as an attempt to delay the proceedings. He said the issue of legal representation must be resolved before the next sitting so the court could proceed with the substantive issues in the suit.