The Accord Party has dismissed claims that businessman and politician, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, emerged as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, declaring that no valid primary election was conducted to produce a flagbearer.
The party also confirmed that it had refunded the N50 million paid by Olawepo-Hashim for expression of interest and nomination forms, citing his failure to meet the deadline stipulated in its electoral timetable.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the National Chairman of the party, Maxwell Mgbuden, described reports of Olawepo-Hashim’s emergence as false and capable of misleading party members and the public.
The clarification followed media reports attributed to Olawepo-Hashim’s camp claiming that he had secured the party’s presidential ticket through an affirmation exercise allegedly held across several states.
Mgbuden, however, said the event was not sanctioned by the party and could not be recognised as an official Accord presidential primary.
“The exercise being portrayed as a presidential primary was neither organised nor approved by the national leadership of the party. It remains a private gathering by supporters and has no bearing on Accord’s nomination process,” he stated.
The party leadership explained that no aspirant successfully completed the requirements for the presidential race within the timeframe approved by the party and submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
According to Mgbuden, although the party concluded nomination processes for governorship, National Assembly and state assembly elections, no presidential aspirant fulfilled the conditions necessary to participate in a valid primary.
He disclosed that Olawepo-Hashim only formally communicated his interest in the race after the expiration of the deadline for the purchase of forms, submission of applications and screening of aspirants.
The Accord chairman said the party subsequently notified INEC that its scheduled presidential primary would not hold because there was no qualified aspirant for the contest.
He further revealed that the politician later paid N50 million into the party’s account, comprising N10 million for an expression of interest form and N40 million for a nomination form.
Mgbuden said the payment was rejected and returned because it was made after the nomination process had officially closed.
“Accord remains committed to transparency and due process. Since the payment was made outside the approved timetable, the party directed its bankers to refund the money to the source account,” he said.
The party also dismissed arguments that Olawepo-Hashim should automatically become its candidate because no other aspirant sought the ticket, insisting that compliance with nomination guidelines could not be waived under any circumstance.
The chairman disclosed that the party formally communicated its position to Olawepo-Hashim and explained why his application and subsequent petition could not be entertained.
He maintained that Accord currently has no presidential candidate for the 2027 election, while reaffirming that candidates for governorship and legislative positions had already emerged through valid processes.
The party urged members and supporters to disregard reports suggesting otherwise and await official communications from its leadership on future political activities.
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