Leaders and stakeholders of the Accord Party in Osun State have given Governor Ademola Adeleke a seven-day ultimatum to publicly declare support for the party’s presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, or risk losing their political backing ahead of the August 2026 governorship election.
The group warned that if the governor fails to publicly endorse Olawepo-Hashim on or before July 21, 2026, they would withdraw their political structures, supporters and votes from his re-election campaign.
The resolution was reached at a meeting of Accord elders and grassroots mobilisers held on Monday, July 13, 2026, where participants unanimously agreed that Governor Adeleke must openly identify with the party’s presidential project.
Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, Alhaji Abass Olaniyi, an Accord chieftain and political mobiliser from Ede North; Elder Timothy Ponle, apex political leader from Boripe Local Government; Hon. Mrs. Folasade Owojori of Ife East Local Government; and Hon. Mrs. Apeke Adewale of Oriade Local Government, said the governorship and presidential ambitions of the party were inseparable.
According to them, many of the stakeholders moved alongside Governor Adeleke and Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Accord Party and expected equal commitment to all candidates flying the party’s flag.
They argued that it would be politically unacceptable for any candidate to seek election on the platform of the Accord Party while distancing himself from its presidential candidate.
The stakeholders also demanded that Governor Adeleke formally invite Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim to Osun State within the next two weeks to lead the party’s presidential campaign as a demonstration of his commitment to the Accord Party’s national leadership.
“We left the PDP to build the Accord into a formidable political platform. The party cannot be good enough for a governorship ambition and suddenly become irrelevant when it comes to its presidential candidate. Loyalty to the party must be complete and reciprocal,” the stakeholders said.
They warned that failure by the governor to comply with the July 21 deadline would leave them with no option but to begin consultations with other governorship candidates ahead of the August election.
“Our members are spread across all local government areas of Osun State. We have invested our structures, time and political capital in building the Accord Party. We cannot, in good conscience, mobilise our supporters for a governorship candidate who refuses to mobilise for the party’s presidential candidate,” they stated.
The stakeholders maintained that their position was aimed at strengthening the Accord Party by ensuring that all candidates contesting on its platform remained committed to the party’s collective vision and national leadership.
The stakeholders expressed unwavering support for the presidential aspiration of Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim and urged Accord Party members across Osun State to remain united and committed to the party’s national vision as preparations gather momentum for the 2026 Osun State governorship election and the 2027 presidential election.
