The Accord Party has dismissed reports naming businessman and politician Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, insisting that no official presidential primary took place under its platform.
The clarification was issued in Abuja on Wednesday by the party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbuden, who said the party had not produced any presidential flagbearer and would not recognise the process being referenced in public reports.
The denial follows announcements from Olawepo-Hashim’s media office claiming he emerged through affirmation exercises conducted across several states, with alleged large participation from party members.
However, Mgbuden said the exercise was not sanctioned by the party leadership and had no standing within Accord’s internal electoral process.
“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.
“It was a fanfare by his supporters, which should not be misconstrued as the party’s presidential primary. It was not.”
He explained that Accord did not process any valid presidential aspirant within the official timetable submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), adding that the party’s nomination window for the presidency had closed without any completed application.
According to the party, while forms were purchased for governorship and legislative positions, no aspirant successfully completed the required steps for the presidential race within the stipulated period.
The leadership further disclosed that Olawepo-Hashim only expressed interest in the presidency through a letter dated May 26, 2026, which came after the deadline for submission and screening had elapsed.
Following this, the party said it notified the electoral authorities of the cancellation of its planned presidential primary.
READ ALSO: Olawepo-Hashim Declares 2027 Presidential Bid On Accord Party Platform
“As a result, the electoral umpire was duly notified of the cancellation of the party’s scheduled presidential primary,” the statement added.
Mgbuden also confirmed that ₦50 million was paid by Olawepo-Hashim after the process had already closed, covering ₦10 million for expression of interest and ₦40 million for nomination forms.
He stated that the payments were made outside the approved timeframe and therefore could not be processed.
“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 said.
Accord said the funds were later reversed to the sender in line with its internal rules and principles of accountability.
“In keeping with the Accord’s cherished principles of transparency, accountability, and due process, the party instructed its bankers to reverse the payments of ₦10,000,000 and ₦40,000,000, expression of interest and nomination forms fees respectively to the originating bank,” it stated.
The party also rejected claims that Olawepo-Hashim should automatically become its candidate due to lack of competition, stressing that adherence to procedures remains compulsory.
“The absence of other aspirants would not dispense with these mandatory conditions nor confer automatic entitlement to nomination,” Mgbuden argued.
Accord further revealed that it had already communicated its position to Olawepo-Hashim in a letter dated May 31, stating that his submission could not be considered because it was made outside the approved schedule.
The party concluded that it currently has no presidential candidate for the 2027 election, although it has already nominated candidates for governorship and legislative contests.