The national leadership of Accord has formally distanced itself from claims that Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim is the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, insisting that it has not nominated any candidate for the presidential race.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbuden, Accord described reports of Olawepo-Hashim’s emergence as its presidential candidate as inaccurate and misleading.
According to the party, the gathering at which Olawepo-Hashim was reportedly declared presidential candidate was neither organised nor recognised by the national leadership. It maintained that the event was merely an activity by his supporters and had no legal or political effect within the party’s nomination process.
The party explained that under its approved guidelines, timetable and schedule of activities submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), no individual successfully entered the presidential nomination process before the deadline.
As a result, Accord said it formally notified INEC that its scheduled presidential primary had been cancelled.
The party stated that although several aspirants purchased nomination forms for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly positions, no aspirant obtained presidential expression of interest and nomination forms within the stipulated timeframe.
Accord disclosed that Olawepo-Hashim indicated interest in contesting for the presidency through a letter dated May 26, 2026, which it said was received after the expiration of the approved timetable.
According to the party, by that time, the screening process for presidential aspirants had already closed and the nomination process concluded.
The party further revealed that payments amounting to ₦50 million, comprising ₦10 million for expression of interest and ₦40 million for nomination forms, were made after the relevant deadlines.
It said it subsequently directed its bankers to reverse the payments to the originating account because the nomination process had ended and no valid application existed for processing.
Accord also rejected a request by Olawepo-Hashim to be declared its presidential candidate on the grounds that no other aspirant had sought the nomination.
The party argued that eligibility for nomination required strict compliance with all procedural requirements, including purchase of forms, submission of completed documents within the prescribed period and participation in mandatory screening exercises.
According to Accord, the absence of competing aspirants does not automatically entitle any individual to nomination and cannot override established electoral guidelines.
The party said it communicated its position to Olawepo-Hashim in a letter dated May 31, 2026, informing him that his expression of interest was submitted after the deadline and therefore could not be processed.
It also stated that a petition he submitted to its Presidential Primary Appeal Committee could not be entertained because there had been no valid presidential nomination process in which he participated.
Reaffirming its commitment to internal democracy, transparency and due process, Accord emphasised that all members are subject to the same rules and timelines without exception.
The party urged members of the public and media organisations to accurately report its position, stressing that it currently has no presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
While confirming that it successfully nominated candidates for governorship and legislative positions across the country, Accord reiterated that no presidential candidate has emerged on its platform for the 2027 election cycle.
