The presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has warned that Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, risks losing his reelection bid in 2026 if he continues to support President Bola Tinubu at the expense of the party’s political interests.

Olawepo-Hashim, through his support group, the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement (GHSM), issued the warning while reacting to comments attributed to the Osun State Chairman of the Accord Party, Pastor Victor Akande, who reportedly questioned the relevance of the presidential candidate within the party.

In a statement issued on Monday by the South-West Coordinator of GHSM, Alhaji Abass Olaniyi, the group described the comments credited to the party chairman as misleading, alleging that they were based on distorted facts and misrepresentation of political developments.

GHSM said Governor Adeleke’s endorsement of President Tinubu was made before his movement into the Accord Party and should not be presented as a reflection of the party’s national position.

According to the group, the Osun PDP leadership caucus endorsed President Tinubu for a second term in July 2025, while Adeleke was still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The group said it rejected the endorsement at the time because it was inconsistent with its political position.

GHSM further stated that the national leadership of Accord Party later engaged Olawepo-Hashim in March 2026 as part of efforts to build a broader political platform ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

It said the engagement, led by the party’s National Chairman, Barrister Maxwell Mgbudem, alongside other national officers, resulted in Olawepo-Hashim participating in the party’s presidential process and emerging as its candidate through direct primaries.

The group argued that the development invalidated claims that Accord Party lacked a presidential direction when Adeleke endorsed President Tinubu.

“The facts are clear. Governor Adeleke endorsed President Tinubu before joining Accord Party. Also, Accord Party’s national leadership invited Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim to provide presidential leadership for the party, and he emerged as the presidential candidate through open direct primaries,” GHSM stated.

The group warned that Governor Adeleke’s approach within Accord Party could create internal contradictions similar to those that affected the PDP, stressing that political parties could only thrive when members respect party structures and collective decisions.

“Accord Party must not travel the same path that weakened PDP. A political party cannot survive when individual calculations are placed above the collective aspirations of its members,” Abass said.

GHSM also claimed that 24 state chairmen of the Accord Party had endorsed Olawepo-Hashim, while noting that the legal dispute surrounding the party’s presidential primary is currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The group said it would refrain from making public comments on the matter because it was already before the court.

It urged Accord Party members to remain united, insisting that the strength of Governor Adeleke’s political future would depend on the cohesion of the platform under which he seeks reelection.

GHSM reaffirmed its support for Olawepo-Hashim’s presidential ambition, describing the movement as one committed to political renewal, competence, institutional reform and national transformation. (Vanguard)

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