Some members of the Accord Party have asked the party leadership to submit the name of its sole presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party members, operating on the platform of Accord Alliance Movement (AAM), alleged that “a fearful establishment is trying to weaponize party machinery to deny our sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, Dr Gbenga Hashim, the presidential ticket he deserves and rightfully should be his.”
Recall that Accord, through a statement by its national chairman, Maxwell Mgbude, had said the party did not conduct any presidential primary to select a standard bearer, hence “is not fielding presidential candidate for the 2027 election.”
Addressing a press conference Wednesday in Abuja, Director General of Accord Alliance Movement, also known as Movement for New Nigeria, Hon. Light Adah Adoko, said the party actually conducted a primary election nationwide where party members came out in large numbers to vote Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the Accord sole presidential candidate.
According to Hon. Adoko, this is not about failing to satisfy the electoral or party guidelines as stated earlier by the leadership of the party, but a deliberate coup against justice, fairness and good conscience.
“A political party is not a private business. It is not a family property managed by a privileged few. A political party is a public trust. It is driven by the hopes, hard work, and financial contributions of millions of ordinary citizens, many who are members of this movement.
“We must look back to understand how dangerous the action of these conspirators within our party is undermining internal party democracy and the very tenets of our hard won democracy. Nigeria’s journey to democracy was not easy. It was built on the sacrifices of many heroes who stood up against military dictatorship. They fought for the right of every Nigerian to choose their leader freely.
“Sadly, these conspirators chose to carry out this injustice against a hero, one that stood in the forefront of many liberation struggles in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large. One who fought military juntas from the trenches in Nigeria and was among a very few set of courageous Nigerians who came out openly to tell the military to exit power and return the country to democracy. With all these sacrifices he has paid for democracy to thrive in the country, shouldn’t it be an honor for the party to have him as our presidential candidate?
“History shows that the path the leadership of our party have chosen leads to ruin. Every time a political party destroys its own internal democracy, it collapses. When you ignore the choices of your members, you destroy their loyalty. You cannot build a winning campaign on a foundation of betrayal. Deciding to deny the sole presidential aspirant the party’s ticket on the grounds of strategic association, smacks of selfishness and callousness.
“How is it possible, that the sole presidential aspirant of a political party, will refuse to adhere to the very guidelines that will guarantee his candidature. There was no grounds for any protest or boycott on the part of the aspirant, owing to the fact that he was the only presidential aspirant of the party. What we are witnessing in the party today is a grand conspiracy against the New Nigeria vision. And Dr Gbenga Hashim is the face of the New Nigeria. He is the embodiment of this promised vision of God for this nation, and the time for its fulfillment is now.”
The Accord chieftain from Benue State declared that every conspiracy and action aimed at hindering the party from having a presidential candidate in the 2027 general election, “is a direct rebellion against the New Nigeria divine covenant agenda of God for this country.
“The action of these anti-democratic forces is not only an attempt to block one man, but it is a hijack of the votes, voice and future of millions of Nigerians who believe in the integrity and capacity of Dr Gbenga Hashim to rescue the country from the unprecedented levels of corruption, insecurity, hunger, rising cost of living and general distraught among the young people of this country.
“As our nation stands at a critical historical crossroads, we need a leader whose integrity is unmatched, who possesses demonstrable compassion and empathy. Dr Gbenga Hashim is the best and only alternative to this generation of conscienceless leaders whose primary purpose of seeking political power is amassing of public wealth. His vision for a united, prosperous and just Nigeria resonates deeply with the aspirations of millions of compatriots across all regions, ethnicities and faiths.”
While reaffirming confidence in Dr. Gbenga Hashim’s candidacy, the pro-democracy group also said the movement represents “a broad coalition of critical stakeholders and grassroots supporters who shall work to mobilize critical mass action for the restoration of hope, unity, peace, progress & prosperity that our country is in dire need of.”