Accord Party leaders give Governor Ademola Adeleke seven days to endorse presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim or risk losing support.
Political tensions are beginning to build within the Accord Party in Osun State as influential leaders and stakeholders have issued Governor Ademola Adeleke a seven-day ultimatum to publicly endorse the party’s presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, warning that failure to do so could cost him crucial political support ahead of the August 2026 governorship election.
According to LEADERSHIP, the party leaders said Governor Adeleke must openly declare his support for Olawepo-Hashim on or before July 21, 2026, or risk losing the backing of major party structures, grassroots mobilisers and loyal supporters spread across the state.
The ultimatum followed a strategic meeting of Accord Party elders, local government leaders and grassroots coordinators held on Monday, July 13, 2026.
Participants at the meeting reportedly agreed unanimously that every candidate seeking elective office on the party’s platform must demonstrate total loyalty to the party’s leadership and political agenda.
Speaking on behalf of the stakeholders, prominent Accord figures, including Alhaji Abass Olaniyi from Ede North, Elder Timothy Ponle of Boripe Local Government, Hon. Mrs. Folasade Owojori of Ife East Local Government and Hon. Mrs. Apeke Adewale of Oriade Local Government, insisted that the party’s governorship and presidential ambitions should move together rather than operate independently.
According to them, the Accord Party cannot afford a situation where candidates benefit from its platform during elections while refusing to identify with its presidential candidate.
They argued that political loyalty should extend beyond personal ambition and reflect a shared commitment to the party’s long-term objectives.
The stakeholders explained that many of those currently working for Governor Adeleke’s governorship ambition joined the Accord Party alongside both the governor and Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
As such, they believe all party members who made that political transition should demonstrate equal commitment to every Accord candidate.
They stressed that supporting one candidate while ignoring another would send the wrong message to party members and voters, particularly at a time when the Accord Party is seeking to strengthen its national identity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The leaders 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 in the state.
They described such an invitation as an important symbol of unity and evidence that the governor fully recognises the party’s national leadership.
According to the stakeholders, the proposed campaign visit would also provide an opportunity for party members across the state to interact directly with the presidential candidate while strengthening coordination between the governorship and presidential campaigns.
The party leaders maintained that they had invested years of political work, grassroots mobilisation and organisational structures to build the Accord Party into a competitive political force.
They argued that those sacrifices should not be undermined by selective support for candidates.
“We left the PDP with the determination to build the Accord Party into a formidable political platform. It is unacceptable for the party to be considered suitable for a governorship ambition while its presidential candidate receives little or no public support. Loyalty to the party must be complete and reciprocal,” the stakeholders said.
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They warned that failure by Governor Adeleke to publicly endorse Dr. Olawepo-Hashim before the July 21 deadline would force them to reconsider their political position ahead of the governorship election.
The group stated that one of the options under consideration would be opening consultations with other governorship candidates who may be willing to fully embrace the Accord Party’s national leadership and campaign structure.
The stakeholders further noted that their members and supporters are active across all local government areas of Osun State and remain influential in grassroots politics.
Because of this widespread presence, they believe their decision could significantly affect political mobilisation during the election.
They insisted that they could not, in good conscience, continue mobilising voters for a governorship candidate who declines to actively support the party’s presidential standard-bearer.
“Our structures are spread across every local government in Osun State. We have invested our time, resources and political capital in strengthening this party. It would be difficult to justify asking our supporters to campaign for a governorship candidate who is unwilling to campaign for the Accord Party’s presidential candidate,” they added.
Despite the strong warning, the stakeholders said their position was not intended to create division within the party but rather to reinforce discipline, unity and collective responsibility among all candidates contesting under the Accord platform.
They argued that political parties become stronger when candidates at every level work together to promote a common vision rather than pursuing isolated political interests.
The leaders concluded by reaffirming their unwavering support for Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim’s presidential ambition and urged Accord Party members throughout Osun State to remain united and focused as preparations continue for both the 2026 governorship election and the 2027 presidential race.
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