KEY POINTS

• Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has emerged as the Accord Party’s presidential candidate after polling 423,902 affirmative votes in its nationwide affirmation primaries.
• The exercise, conducted across several states, saw him as the sole aspirant and was described as peaceful and transparent by party officials.
• Party leaders say his candidacy represents unity and a fresh political alternative ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has officially emerged as the presidential candidate of the Accord Party for the 2027 general elections following the conclusion of its affirmation primaries held across several states in Nigeria.

He secured a total of 423,902 affirmative votes in a process that allowed party members and supporters to endorse him as the sole aspirant for the ticket.

The results were collated from participating states and formally announced by returning officers overseeing the exercise in different regions.

According to the party’s results, Jigawa State recorded the highest number of affirmative votes with 198,200, followed by Kano State with 124,101 votes.

Other contributions included:

• Nasarawa State – 47,309 votes
• Kebbi State – 46,852 votes
• Lagos State – 4,548 votes
• Kwara State – 3,348 votes

These figures brought Olawepo-Hashim’s total endorsement to 423,902 votes nationwide.

Party officials described the process as orderly and reflective of strong internal support for the candidate.

Exercise Described as Peaceful and Transparent

Officials who supervised the affirmation exercise across various states said the process was conducted without incident and in a transparent manner.

Mallam Yahaya Mohammed Usman, returning officer for Kebbi State, said the exercise reflected members’ confidence in the candidate’s leadership.

He noted that the voting process demonstrated strong internal cohesion within the party as it prepares for the 2027 elections.

Another returning officer, Mohammed Bashar Abdulahi, said the outcome signaled the Accord Party’s readiness to compete nationally.

He described Olawepo-Hashim as a unifying figure capable of bridging regional and religious divides in the country.

According to him, the party believes the candidate represents a platform for national reconciliation and political stability.