2027: Accord disowns Olawepo-Hashim, refunds N50m nomination fees
By Luminous Jannamike
ABUJA — The national leadership of Accord Party has disowned Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, insisting that the party has no candidate for the race and that no valid presidential primary was conducted.
The party also maintained that Olawepo-Hashim was not nominated through its approved presidential nomination process, describing reports of his emergence as false and misleading.
In a statement signed by the National Chairman, Barrister Maxwell Mgbuden, the party said what was being described as a primary was merely a private political gathering organised by supporters of the aspirant.
“The purported presidential primary where he emerged as the ‘presidential candidate of Accord’ as widely reported in the national media was not conducted by our great party and has no effect whatsoever,” Mgbuden said.
“It was a fanfare by his supporters and should not be misconstrued as the party’s presidential primary. It was not.”
The party explained that its presidential nomination timetable, which had been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), did not produce any valid presidential aspirant.
It said although several aspirants purchased forms for governorship, National Assembly and state assembly positions, no candidate completed the required process for the presidential ticket within the stipulated timeframe.
Accord disclosed that Olawepo-Hashim only indicated interest in the presidential race through a letter dated May 26, 2026, after the deadline for submission, screening and purchase of forms had expired.
In a response reportedly issued to him on May 31, the party said his expression of interest could not be processed because it was submitted outside the approved timeline.
“The party acknowledges receipt of your letter dated 26th May 2026 expressing your interest in contesting for the office of President… however, it was received after the expiration of the approved timeline,” the statement said.
Consequently, Accord said it notified INEC of the cancellation of its scheduled presidential primary.
The party further revealed that it received payments of N10 million for expression of interest and N40 million for nomination forms after the process had been concluded and the cancellation communicated.
“Following the expiration of the timeline… the party received bank alerts indicating payments of N10,000,000 and N40,000,000,” it said.
It added that the funds were subsequently reversed to the originating account since there was no valid nomination process in place.
Accord also rejected Olawepo-Hashim’s claim that he should automatically emerge as candidate due to absence of other aspirants, insisting that all party procedures must be strictly followed regardless of competition.
“The absence of other aspirants does not dispense with these mandatory conditions nor confer automatic entitlement to nomination,” Mgbuden stated.
The party maintained that deadlines for purchase of forms, screening and submission were binding and had already elapsed before Olawepo-Hashim’s application.
It added that it could not process his petition or recognise his claim to the ticket.
Accord concluded that it currently has no presidential candidate for the 2027 election, stressing that only its governorship and legislative candidates remain valid.
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