Gbenga Hashim Demands Primary Election Delay to September Citing Electoral Act Compliance

Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim calls on President Tinubu to shift the 2027 party primary timetable to September in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 10:04 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Sun Nigeria

A Judicial and Statutory Challenge to Electoral Timing

The countdown to the 2027 general elections has met a significant procedural challenge from Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a former presidential candidate and prominent energy entrepreneur. In an open letter to the Presidency, Hashim asserted that the current rush toward early political primaries is a direct contravention of the recently amended Electoral Act 2026. He maintained that pushing these critical internal elections to September is not merely a preference but a statutory requirement intended to safeguard the integrity of the democratic process.

Invoking Section 29 of the Amended Act

Central to Hashim’s argument is Section 29(1) of the new law, which he claims provides a much broader window for party activities than the current schedule allows. By compressing the primary season, the entrepreneur warned that the Independent National Electoral Commission is unfairly restricting the latitude of political parties. He suggested that adhering to a mid-September deadline would offer a more inclusive environment, allowing diverse aspirants the necessary time to mobilize and compete fairly within their respective organizations.

Demanding Leadership Changes at the Commission

The correspondence included a high-stakes recommendation for the total reconstitution of the electoral umpire. Hashim explicitly called for the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, to step aside in favor of a new, broadly credible leadership team. According to the letter, such a transition is essential to restore public confidence in the institution before the heat of the next election cycle begins, ensuring that the commission remains a neutral arbiter.