Accord Rejects Olawepo-Hashim’s Claim, Returns N50m Nomination Fee

The national leadership of the Accord Party has distanced itself from claims that businessman and politician, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, emerged as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

The party also disclosed that it has refunded the N50 million paid by Olawepo-Hashim for expression of interest and nomination forms, insisting that no valid presidential primary was conducted to produce a candidate.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the National Chairman of the party, Maxwell Mgbuden, described reports of Olawepo-Hashim’s emergence as misleading, stressing that the exercise organised by his supporters was not recognised by the party.

According to Mgbuden, the gathering presented as a presidential primary did not have the approval of the national leadership and therefore has no bearing on the party’s official position.

He explained that Accord did not produce a presidential candidate because no aspirant completed the required nomination process within the timeframe stipulated in the party’s guidelines and timetable submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The party noted that while several aspirants successfully completed processes for governorship, National Assembly and state legislative positions, no individual met the requirements for the presidential ticket before the deadline expired.

Mgbuden revealed that Olawepo-Hashim only formally expressed interest in the race through a letter dated May 26, 2026, after the period for the submission, screening and processing of presidential aspirants had already closed.

He added that the party subsequently informed INEC of the cancellation of its planned presidential primary.

The Accord chairman further disclosed that the party received payments amounting to N50 million from Olawepo-Hashim after the nomination process had ended.

The amount, according to him, comprised N10 million for the expression of interest form and N40 million for the nomination form.

He stated that the payments could not be processed because they were made outside the approved timeframe, prompting the party to direct its bankers to refund the money to the originating account.

Mgbuden maintained that the absence of other aspirants did not automatically qualify Olawepo-Hashim to emerge as the party’s candidate, stressing that all aspirants must comply with laid-down procedures regardless of the level of competition.

The party also disclosed that it formally communicated its position to Olawepo-Hashim in a letter dated May 31, informing him that his application and subsequent petition could not be considered because they were submitted after the deadline.

The Accord leadership reiterated that, as things stand, the party has no presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, although candidates have been nominated for governorship and legislative positions across the country.