2027: Accord disowns Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as its presidential candidate

The Accord has disowned Gbenga Olawepo‑Hashim as its presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The party stated that it did not produce a presidential candidate at the close of the sale of expression‑of‑interest and nomination forms, nor did it screen any aspirant or conduct a primary election for the position.

Accord said that its scheduled presidential primary election was cancelled because no aspirant had come forward within the party’s electoral guidelines timeframe, and that the Independent National Electoral Commission was duly informed.

The party said it had instructed the bank to reverse Olawepo‑Hashim’s payments for the expression‑of‑interest and nomination forms, insisting that the payment was made after the prescribed deadline and after the process had concluded.

Accord’s statement, signed by Barrister Maxwell Mgbuden, National Chairman, said that the purported presidential primary in which he emerged as the candidate was not conducted by the national leadership of the party and has no effect whatsoever, adding that it was a fanfare by his supporters.

The statement said, “Accord did not have a presidential aspirant, let alone a presidential candidate, within the party’s approved Guidelines, Timetable, and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of the presidential nomination process, as duly communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The party upholds strict internal democracy in its activities including the nomination process.”

“While numerous aspirants rushed to purchase Accord’s expression‑of‑interest and nomination forms for Governorship, State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate, no aspirant purchased expression‑of‑interest and nomination forms for President within the party’s electoral guidelines timeframe. Accordingly, the electoral umpire was duly notified of the cancellation of the party’s scheduled presidential primary.”

“On 26th May 2026, Dr Gbenga Olawepo‑Hashim wrote the party expressing interest in contesting for president which was received after the expiration of the approved timeline and could not be processed as a valid application under the party’s presidential nomination process.”

“It was after the elapse of the party’s timeframe for the purchase of the expression‑of‑interest and nomination forms as well as the screening of any aspirant for president that Dr Gbenga Olawepo‑Hashim paid for the said forms into the party’s bank account. In keeping with the Accord’s cherished principles of transparency, accountability, and due process, the party instructed its bankers to reverse the payments of N10,000,000.00 and N40,000,000.00 expression‑of‑interest and nomination forms fees respectfully to the originating bank.”

The party said it turned down Gbenga Olawepo‑Hashim’s request to be declared the party’s presidential candidate on the basis that no other aspirant presented himself for nomination, as eligibility to participate in the nomination process was predicated upon full compliance with the requirements contained in Accord’s guidelines, including collection of expression‑of‑interest/nomination forms, filling and timely submission of the forms on or before the scheduled screening date and participation in the approved timeframe.

“The absence of other aspirants would not dispense with these mandatory conditions nor confer automatic entitlement to nomination,” it added.