The leadership of Accord has dismissed as false and misleading reports linking Dr. Gbenga Joel Olawepo-Hashim to the party as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, insisting that the party has not adopted any aspirant and that the businessman is not a recognised member of the party.
The clarification followed a media publication reporting that the Accord Alliance Movement (AAM), also known as the Movement for New Nigeria, had reaffirmed its support for Olawepo-Hashim as the party’s presidential candidate during the inauguration of the group’s political movement in Abuja.
The report quoted the Director-General of the AAM, Hon. Light Adah Adoko, as claiming that Olawepo-Hashim remained the party’s sole presidential aspirant and alleging that some forces within Accord were working to frustrate his emergence.
However, in a rebuttal issued on Friday, the Southwest Zonal Leader of Accord, Mogaji Sunday Paul Igbinsola, described the claims as entirely false, stressing that Accord has no officially recognised presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
He said any individual or group presenting anyone as the party’s presidential candidate was acting independently and without the authority of Accord.
According to the statement, Olawepo-Hashim is neither a recognised member nor a stakeholder of Accord, making any claim that he is the party’s presidential candidate “false, misleading and intended to deceive the public.”
The party further stated that the Southwest Zone has no knowledge of Olawepo-Hashim as a member, adding that his name has never featured in the activities, meetings or programmes of the party in the region.
Igbinsola also clarified that he had never met Olawepo-Hashim, either officially or unofficially, dismissing any attempt to associate the Southwest leadership of Accord with the politician’s reported presidential ambition.
The party equally distanced itself from the Accord Alliance Movement, saying the organisation was not recognised by the constitutionally established leadership of Accord and had no authority to speak or act on behalf of the party.
Accord also faulted the repeated reference to its name as “Accord Party” in the publication, explaining that the registered name of the political organisation is simply “ACCORD.” It said the misuse of the party’s name further cast doubt on the credibility of those behind the claims.
The party advised members of the public, journalists and political stakeholders to verify all information relating to Accord through its recognised leadership and official organs rather than through what it described as self-appointed groups pursuing personal political interests.
The statement further urged Olawepo-Hashim to immediately stop presenting himself as Accord’s presidential candidate, warning against actions capable of creating division within the party.
Reaffirming its commitment to internal democracy, the rule of law and the Electoral Act, Accord said it would, at the appropriate time, conduct its constitutionally prescribed nomination process to produce candidates for the 2027 general election.
“No amount of propaganda, misinformation or media manipulation can substitute for legitimate membership, constitutional processes and the collective decision of the party,” the statement concluded, while urging Nigerians to disregard reports portraying Olawepo-Hashim as the party’s presidential candidate.
