The Accord has disowned Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as its presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

The Party said it did not produce a presidential candidate at the close of sale of expression of interest and nomination forms and did not screen any aspirant neither did it conduct a primary election for the position.

Accord said that its scheduled presidential primary election was cancelled as there was no aspirant within its electoral guidelines timeframe and that the Independent National Electoral Commission was duly informed.

The party said it had instructed the bank to reverse Olawepo-Hashim’s payments for the expression of interest and nomination forms, insisting that the payment was made after the prescribed deadline and when the process has been concluded.

Accord’s statement signed by Barrister Maxwell Mgbuden, National Chairman, its National Chairman, said that the purported presidential primary where he emerged as the presidential candidate was not conducted by the national leadership of the party and has no effect whatsoever, adding that it was a fanfare by his supporters.

The statement said, “Accord did not have a presidential aspirant let alone a presidential candidate within the party’s approved Guidelines, Timetable, and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of the presidential nomination process, as duly communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The party upholds strict internal democracy in its activities including nomination process.

“While numerous aspirants rushed to purchase Accord’s expression of interest and nomination forms for Governorship, State House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate, no aspirant purchased expression of interest and nomination forms for President within the party’s electoral guidelines timeframe. Accordingly, the electoral umpire was duly notified of the cancellation of the party’s scheduled presidential primary.

“On 26th May 2026, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim wrote the party expressing interest in contesting for president which was received after the expiration of the approved timeline which could not be processed as a valid application under the party’s presidential nomination process.

“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. In keeping with the Accord’s cherished principles of transparency, accountability, and due process, the party instructed its bankers to reverse the payments of N10,000,000.00 and N40,000,000.00 expression of interest and nomination forms fees respectfully to the originating bank.”

The party said it turned down Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim’s request to be declared the party’s presidential candidate on the basis that no other aspirant presented himself for nomination, as eligibility to participate in the nomination process was predicated upon full compliance with the requirements contained in Accord’s guidelines, including collection of expression of interest/nomination forms, filling and timely submission of the forms on or before the scheduled screening date and participation in the approved timeframe.

“The absence of other aspirants would not dispense with these mandatory conditions nor confer automatic entitlement to nomination,” it added.

The Obidient Movement and dtakeholders of Kaduna South senatorial district have said that zoning the governorship ticket to Southern Kaduna will give the party an advantage in winning the 2027 general election in the state.

Pastor Isaac Ango Makama, coordinator of the Obidient Movement and NDC stakeholders in the southern senatorial zone, while addressing journalists in Kaduna on Wednesday, said, “The APC and PDP have zoned their candidates to the central senatorial zone while the ADC zoned its own to the northern senatorial zone. So the NDC has the advantage of winning the election if it zones the governorship to the southern senatorial zone.”

He added, “We are convinced that presenting a governorship candidate from Southern Kaduna will strengthen the NDC’s electoral prospects by inspiring confidence among voters who seek a departure from the old political order. It will also send a powerful message that our party rewards commitment, respects diversity, and believes in the principles of justice and inclusion.”

He explained that their demand is peaceful and democratic, and in the overall interest of party unity, stressing that they are not opposed to any zone or group but are advocating a decision that reflects the political realities of recent elections and the aspirations of thousands of party supporters across Kaduna State.

Makama called on the national and state leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress led by Sen. Seriake Dickson, presidential candidate Peter Obi and Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, party elders, State Party Chairman Mordecai Ibrahim, youth groups, women leaders, and all stakeholders to support the zoning of the party’s governorship ticket to Kaduna South senatorial district.

He stated that zoning the governorship ticket to Kaduna South Senatorial District is not merely a political concession but an acknowledgment of the sacrifices and democratic commitment of a people who have remained steadfast in the struggle for a better Kaduna State.

He added that Southern Kaduna possesses qualified men and women with the competence, experience, and vision required to govern the state effectively, stressing that the issue is about capacity and creating an equitable platform for every section of the state to aspire to the highest office.

Makama noted that as the NDC seeks to establish itself as a credible alternative in Kaduna State, it cannot ignore the political courage and commitment demonstrated by the people of Southern Kaduna, who stood firmly for change when it was difficult, and deserve recognition and inclusion in the party’s leadership calculations.

According to him, “In the 2023 general elections, Southern Kaduna distinguished itself as one of the strongest supporters of the movement for change represented by Mr. Peter Obi and the Labour Party. While many parts of the country were influenced by ethnic, religious, and establishment politics, the people of Southern Kaduna voted overwhelmingly for competence, accountability, national unity, and a new political direction.”

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Makurdi on Wednesday, struck out the Notice of Appeal filed by the Benue State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Benjamin Omale, following developments that rendered the case unnecessary for judicial determination.

The appeal, marked CA/MKD/1199/2024, was initially filed by Dr Omale challenging a decision of the lower court which had earlier given judgment in favour of Mr Augustine Agada as State Chairman of the APC in Benue State.

However, while the appeal was still pending before the appellate court, a significant development altered the political and legal landscape of the dispute.

The tenure of Mr Agada expired, leading to the conduct of a new State Congress of the APC in Benue State, which produced Dr Omale as the substantive State Chairman.

Following this development, Dr Omale formally applied to withdraw the appeal on the grounds that the subject matter had been overtaken by events and no longer presented a live controversy requiring adjudication.

In a unanimous decision, the Court of Appeal granted the application and struck out the appeal, holding that there was no longer a live issue for determination.

The court also ordered that each party should bear its own costs.

The ruling effectively brought an end to the appellate proceedings arising from the earlier leadership dispute within the Benue APC.

Reacting to the development, a senior legal practitioner and chieftain of the APC in Benue State, Mr Terfa Jirgba, described the outcome as a logical conclusion of an academic exercise, noting that the expiration of Mr Agada’s tenure had rendered further litigation unnecessary.

According to him, the judiciary ought not to be burdened with matters that have already been overtaken by events, adding that the court acted within its powers in striking out the appeal.

It would be recalled that the internal crisis stemmed from leadership disputes that led to legal battles over the legitimacy of the state executive committee.