Accord Rejects Olawepo-Hashim’s 2027 Presidential Claim, Says ‘We Have No Candidate’

The national leadership of the Accord Party has disowned Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim’s claim of emerging as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, declaring that no presidential primary was conducted and no candidate has been nominated for the race.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbuden, described the alleged primary that produced Olawepo-Hashim as an unofficial gathering organised by his supporters and not a recognised party exercise.
The clarification follows reports from Olawepo-Hashim’s media office announcing his emergence through what was described as affirmation primaries held across several states.
However, Mgbuden dismissed the claim, insisting that the exercise had no backing from the party’s national leadership.
“The purported presidential primary where he emerged as the ‘presidential candidate of Accord’ was not conducted by our great party and has no effect whatsoever. It was a fanfare by his supporters and should not be misconstrued as the party’s presidential primary,” he said.
According to the party, no aspirant successfully completed the required nomination process for the presidency within the timeframe stipulated in its guidelines and timetable submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Mgbuden disclosed that Olawepo-Hashim only formally expressed interest in the presidential ticket through a letter dated May 26, 2026, after the deadline for submissions and screening had expired.
He further revealed that the politician later paid N50 million for the expression of interest and nomination forms after the nomination process had closed. The party said it subsequently directed its bankers to refund the money, citing its commitment to transparency and due process.
Accord also rejected the argument that Olawepo-Hashim should automatically become its candidate because no other aspirant sought the ticket, stressing that all aspirants must comply with the party’s nomination procedures regardless of the level of competition.
The party said it formally communicated its position to Olawepo-Hashim in a letter dated May 31, explaining why his application and petition could not be considered.
“For now, Accord has no presidential candidate for the 2027 general election,” Mgbuden stated, adding that the party only nominated candidates for governorship and legislative positions.