The Nasarawa State Working Committee (SWC) of the Accord Party has thrown its weight behind the legal action instituted by the party’s presidential aspirant, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, challenging the decision of the party’s national leadership over the outcome of the Accord Party presidential primary.
The state chapter also insisted that Dr. Olawepo-Hashim remains the validly nominated presidential candidate of the Accord Party, describing the lawsuit as a legitimate step towards protecting internal party democracy and ensuring that the mandate freely given by party members is respected.
Addressing journalists at the Accord Party State Secretariat in Lafia on Friday, July 10, 2026, the Nasarawa State Chairman of the party, Hon. Shello Mabutu, said the state chapter had no reason to accept the decision of the national leadership to withhold the submission of Dr. Olawepo-Hashim’s name after conducting what he described as a transparent, credible and valid presidential primary election.
“We see no reason why the National Body failed to submit the name of His Excellency after conducting a transparent and affirmative primary election.
We have clear proof that the primary was organised by the National Body of the Accord Party on May 30, 2026, and not by the supporters of His Excellency,” Mabutu stated.
The chairman further disclosed that the Nasarawa State chapter was only informed on June 3, 2026, of a pending court case involving the Barr. Maxwell-led and Prof. Christopher-led factions of the party.
According to him, it was on the same day that the state chapter was directed to disown Dr. Olawepo-Hashim as the party’s presidential aspirant.
He said the sequence of events strongly suggested that there had been an undisclosed arrangement that ultimately influenced the decision of the party’s national leadership.
The Nasarawa State SWC consequently condemned the decision of the national body to disown Dr. Olawepo-Hashim, insisting that the presidential primary conducted on May 30 validly produced him as the party’s presidential candidate.
The committee also commended Dr. Olawepo-Hashim for his outstanding contributions to the growth and development of the Accord Party in Nasarawa State.
According to the SWC, the presidential aspirant provided significant support towards the acquisition of the party’s state secretariat in Lafia and sponsored the state chapter during the Accord Party electronic membership registration exercise.
Describing him as “a leader par excellence,” the committee said his commitment to strengthening the party had gone far beyond expectations.
“Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has contributed immensely to the growth of our party. He supported us in acquiring our State Secretariat and stood firmly with the state chapter during the e-registration exercise. His contributions have exceeded our expectations.
“We therefore stand solidly behind his candidature and believe, by the grace of God, that he deserves to become the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The statement was signed by the Secretary of the Nasarawa State Accord Party, Adam Shuaib Ekpeji.
The endorsement comes as Dr. Olawepo-Hashim’s suit challenging the actions of the Accord Party’s national leadership remains pending before the Federal High Court. The national leadership of the Accord Party has yet to publicly respond to the latest position taken by the Nasarawa State chapter.
