National leadership of the Accord Party, yesterday, disowned Dr Gbenga Hashim as its presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election.

The party insisted that it neither had a presidential aspirant within its approved timetable nor conducted a presidential primary.

The party said the purported presidential primary in which Hashim reportedly emerged as Accord’s presidential candidate was not organised by the party’s national leadership and therefore has no legal or political effect.

In a statement by Accord National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbuden, the party described the event as a “fanfare by his supporters” that should not be mistaken for an official party primary.

The party noted that while several aspirants obtained forms for governorship, state Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate positions, none completed the requirements for the presidential nomination process before the deadline.

Mgbuden noted that Hashim only wrote to the party on May 26, 2026, expressing interest in contesting the presidency, a day after the scheduled screening date for presidential aspirants.

The party said the application was received after the approved timeline expired and, therefore, could not be processed as a valid nomination under its electoral guidelines.

In a formal response, dated May 31, 2026, to Hashim’s letter and petition, the party reiterated that no aspirant purchased, submitted nomination forms or appeared for screening before the deadline, leading to the cancellation of the presidential primary and notification to INEC.