The Accord Party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has dismissed suggestions that Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu would influence the state’s voters in the presidential election.
Olawepo-Hashim spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, following the announcement of Adeleke, the Accord Party’s only elected governor, as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.
He rejected the suggestion that Adeleke’s position as the party’s only elected governor made him its national leader.
“He (Adeleke) can’t be the leader, he is a governor that was a beneficiary of office. When you have a party, you have the executive, the executive leaders of the party are the leaders of the party,” Olawepo-Hashim said.
Adeleke won re-election for a second term as Osun State governor in August and has reiterated his support for Tinubu’s re-election. However, Olawepo-Hashim argued that the governor could not dictate how the people of the state would vote in the presidential election.
“The fact that he won his election as governor, Governor Adeleke cannot compel the people of Osun State to vote for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Osun people let me repeat are incredibly honourable people, what we call Omoluabi in Yoruba parlance, they are ideological, they have great history, they are not conquered people, they do what they believe.
“So, I still believe that regardless of what Governor Adeleke is doing, Osun people are still going to vote for Accord Party at the presidential election. I can bet on that by the grace of God.”
The Accord Party candidate described the 2027 election as unusual, claiming that many Nigerians had already decided against voting for the APC and Tinubu.
He accused the Tinubu-led government of mismanaging the economy, undermining national unity and worsening insecurity. He also accused the administration of showing little compassion for ordinary Nigerians, whom he said were living in abject poverty.
Olawepo-Hashim maintained that the election would be determined by the performance of the Tinubu administration rather than the individual candidates.
He also expressed confidence in his chances, claiming that Tinubu would not secure 20 per cent of the votes if the election were held today.
The post Adeleke Isn’t Our Party Leader, Can’t Compel Osun People To Vote Tinubu – Olawepo-Hashim appeared first on Channels Television.