The Accord Party has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit seeking the disqualification of all its candidates for the 2027 general elections, describing the action as incompetent, premature and statute-barred.

The party, through its counsel, Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, filed a preliminary objection challenging the suit instituted by its National Secretary, Adebukola Ajaja, over the submission of the party’s candidates’ nomination documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Ajaja had challenged the authority of the National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, and National Organising Secretary, Ibe Kenechukwu ThankGod, to jointly sign and submit the nomination documents without her participation.

She asked the court to invalidate the submissions, arguing that the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines required the joint signatures of the National Chairman and National Secretary.

However, Accord argued that the suit was filed outside the 14-day statutory period, that Ajaja lacked the legal standing to institute the action and that the candidates whose nominations were being challenged were not joined as parties.

It also faulted her for allegedly failing to serve the mandatory 21-day pre-action notice.

The party maintained that its primary election was conducted in accordance with the law and that its National Chairman and National Organising Secretary were authorised to submit the candidates’ documents to INEC.

It urged the court to uphold its preliminary objection and dismiss the suit.