…warn of withdrawal of support and votes ahead Osun governorship election
Accord Elders and Stakeholders in Osun State have issued a seven day ultimatum to Governor Ademola Adeleke to publicly endorse the Accord Party’s presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, warning that failure to do so will compel members to withdraw its political structures, supporters and votes from his re-election campaign.
The resolution was reached at a meeting held on Monday, July 13, where party leaders and influential grassroots mobilisers from across Osun State unanimously agreed that Governor Adeleke must, on or before July 21, 2026, publicly identify with the Accord Party’s presidential project or forfeit the political support of the forum.
Speaking on behalf of the leaders were Alhaji Abass Olaniyi, Accord chieftain and political mobiliser (Ede North); Elder Timothy Ponle, apex political leader (Boripe Local Government); Hon. Mrs. Folasade Owojori (Ife East Local Government); and Hon. Mrs. Apeke Adewale (Oriade Local Government).
The stakeholders, many of whom moved with both Governor Adeleke and Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the Accord Party, said the party’s governorship and presidential projects are inseparable and must be pursued with equal commitment.
According to them, 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 also demanded that Governor Adeleke formally invite Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim to Osun State within the next two weeks to lead the party’s presidential campaign and demonstrate his commitment to the Accord 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 stakeholders warned that failure to comply with the July 21 deadline would leave them with no alternative but to commence consultations with other governorship candidates ahead of the August 2026 election.
“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 emphasized that its position is intended to strengthen, not weaken, the Accord Party by ensuring that every candidate contesting on its platform remains committed to the party’s collective vision and national leadership.
They reaffirmed its unwavering support for the presidential aspiration of Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim and urged all Accord Party members across Osun State to remain united behind the party’s national project as preparations intensify for the 2026 governorship and 2027 presidential elections.
