Accord rejects Olawepo-Hashim as presidential candidate

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Accord Party has publicly disowned Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as its purported presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, insisting that no valid nomination process produced such an outcome.

In a hard-hitting clarification issued on Wednesday, the party’s National Chairman, Barrister Maxwell Mgbuden, said the so-called primary that produced Olawepo-Hashim was “unauthorised, invalid and of no electoral consequence”.

He said the exercise being circulated in parts of the media was merely a gathering of supporters, not a party-conducted presidential primary as required under its constitution and guidelines.

According to him, the party did not record any presidential aspirant within the approved timetable, adding that no individual purchased, submitted, or screened for the presidential ticket before the deadline communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The party disclosed that its scheduled presidential primary was earlier cancelled and formally communicated to Independent National Electoral Commission after the expiration of its nomination timeline.

Mgbuden further explained that Dr Olawepo-Hashim only expressed interest on May 26, 2026 — a day after the party’s deadline for presidential nomination activities had closed.

He added that payments of ₦10 million and ₦40 million allegedly made for expression of interest and nomination forms were received after the process had been concluded, forcing the party to order a reversal to the originating bank.

“The payments could not be processed as nomination fees for a process that had already been concluded,” the party stated, stressing adherence to internal democracy and strict timelines.

Accord maintained that eligibility for nomination is strictly tied to compliance with its guidelines, including timely collection and submission of forms and participation in screening exercises.

It stressed that the absence of other aspirants does not automatically confer candidacy on any individual outside established procedures.

The party also dismissed claims that Olawepo-Hashim had emerged as candidate unopposed, describing such reports as misleading and not reflective of its official position.

It urged the media and the public to rely only on verified party communications, adding that it remains focused on fielding candidates for governorship and legislative elections while the presidential slot remains vacant.