Accord Party elders and stakeholders in Osun State have issued a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Ademola Adeleke to publicly declare support for the party’s presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim.
The leaders warned that failure to do so on or before July 21, 2026, would compel them to withdraw their political structures, supporters, and votes from the governor’s re-election campaign ahead of the August 2026 governorship election.
The resolution was reached at a meeting held on Monday, July 13, 2026, attended by party leaders and grassroots mobilisers from across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the forum, Alhaji Abass Olaniyi, Accord chieftain from Ede North; Elder Timothy Ponle, apex leader from Boripe; Hon. Mrs. Folasade Owojori, Ife East; and Hon. Mrs. Apeke Adewale, Oriade, said the governorship and presidential projects of the party are inseparable.
The stakeholders, many of whom defected with both Governor Adeleke and Dr. Hashim from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the Accord Party, said it was politically inconsistent for any candidate to seek election on the party’s platform while distancing himself from its presidential candidate.
“It is politically unacceptable for any candidate to seek electoral victory on the platform of Accord Party while distancing himself from the party’s presidential candidate,” they said.
They also demanded that Governor Adeleke formally invite Dr. Hashim to Osun State within the next two weeks to lead the party’s presidential campaign and demonstrate commitment to the party at the national level.
“We left PDP to build Accord into a formidable political platform. The party cannot be good enough for a governorship ambition and suddenly become irrelevant when it comes to its presidential candidate. Loyalty to the party must be complete and reciprocal,” they declared.
The elders warned that failure to meet the deadline would force them to commence consultations with other governorship candidates.
“Our members are spread across all local government areas of Osun State. We have invested our structures, time and political capital in building the Accord Party. We cannot, in good conscience, mobilise our supporters for a governorship candidate who refuses to mobilise for the party’s presidential candidate,” they said.
They, however, emphasized that their position was aimed at strengthening the party by ensuring all candidates on its platform remain committed to its collective vision and national leadership.
The stakeholders reaffirmed their support for Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim’s presidential aspiration and urged Accord members across the state to remain united behind the party’s national project ahead of the 2026 governorship and 2027 presidential elections.
