The Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement (GHSM) has cautioned the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke against actions, it said could deepen divisions within the Accord Party, warning that internal wrangling would undermine the party’s fortunes ahead of the 2027 general election.
The warning followed comments reportedly made by the Osun state chairman of the Accord Party, Victor Akande, during a radio programme on the party’s internal affairs, including Governor Adeleke’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement issued yesterday by its South-West Coordinator, Abass Olaniyi, the group described Akande’s remarks as false and misleading, alleging that they misrepresented the sequence of political events surrounding the party’s presidential ticket.
GHSM maintained that Governor Adeleke’s endorsement of President Tinubu was made before he joined the Accord Party, when he was still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The movement also claimed that the Accord Party’s national leadership had already initiated moves to field Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as its presidential candidate before Adeleke defected to the party.
According to the statement, the party’s national executives met with Olawepo-Hashim in Abuja in March 2026 to discuss his participation in the 2027 presidential race, after which he emerged as the party’s presidential candidate through the party’s primary process.
GHSM argued that the development contradicted claims that the party lacked a presidential direction when Adeleke endorsed President Tinubu.
“The facts are clear. Governor Adeleke endorsed President Tinubu before joining the Accord Party, while the party’s national leadership subsequently produced Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as its presidential candidate through its internal process.
“Therefore, the argument that Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu was caused by the absence of a presidential candidate in the Accord Party does not align with the timeline of events,” the statement said.
The group warned that the Accord Party should not be allowed to suffer the same internal divisions that weakened the Peoples Democratic Party.
“The Accord Party must not travel the same path that weakened the PDP. A political party cannot survive when individual calculations are placed above the collective aspirations of its members,” Olaniyi stated.
GHSM also said the dispute over the party’s presidential primary is currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja and declined further comments on the matter, citing the pending litigation.
It, however, maintained that resolving the party’s internal disagreements would be critical to its electoral prospects, warning that continued divisions could affect Governor Adeleke’s re-election bid if not properly managed.
