Accord denies Olawepo-Hashim's presidential bid, refunds N50m fee

Accord's national leadership said on Wednesday that Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim is not their presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. They clarified that the party did not hold a presidential primary or select any candidate for the election.

Maxwell Mgbuden, the party’s National Chairman, made this statement in Abuja. This clarification comes two days after Olawepo-Hashim's media office announced his candidacy following what they claimed were affirmation primaries with high turnout from party members and supporters.

But Mgbuden said that the so-called primary event that produced Olawepo-Hashim was not recognized by the party. He described it as just a gathering organized by his supporters, saying, “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.”

He added, “It was a fanfare by his supporters, which should not be misconstrued as the party’s presidential primary. It was not.” Mgbuden insisted that there was no valid presidential aspirant during the period set in the party's guidelines and schedule sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He pointed out that while many aspirants bought nomination forms for governorship, National Assembly, and state legislative positions, none completed the requirements to run for president on time. Accord stated that Olawepo-Hashim only showed interest in running for president through a letter dated May 26, 2026, after the deadline for submitting and screening candidates had passed.

The statement added, “As a result, the electoral umpire was duly notified of the cancellation of the party’s scheduled presidential primary.” Mgbuden also mentioned that the party received a total of N50 million from Olawepo-Hashim after the nomination period was over. This payment consisted of N10 million for the expression of interest form and N40 million for the nomination form.

“It was after the elapse of the party’s timeframe for the purchase of the expression of interest and nomination forms as well as the screening of any aspirant for president that Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim paid for the said forms into the party’s bank account,” the statement explained.

The party said it later told its banks to reverse the payments since they could not be processed for a nomination that had already closed. “In keeping with the Accord’s cherished principles of transparency, accountability, and due process, the party instructed its bankers to reverse the payments of N10,000,000 and N40,000,000, expression of interest and nomination forms fees respectively to the originating bank,” it stated.

Accord also rejected Olawepo-Hashim’s claim that he should automatically be the party’s candidate because there were no other aspirants. The party emphasized that following its nomination procedures is necessary, no matter how many people are interested.

Mgbuden argued, “The absence of other aspirants would not dispense with these mandatory conditions nor confer automatic entitlement to nomination.” The leadership also revealed that they officially told Olawepo-Hashim in a letter dated May 31 that his expression of interest and petition could not be processed because they came in after the deadline.

“For now, Accord has no presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. The party, however, nominated candidates for governorship and legislative offices,” Mgbuden concluded.