Elders and stakeholders of the Accord Party in Osun State have given Governor Ademola Adeleke a seven-day ultimatum to publicly declare support for the party's presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, warning that failure to do so could cost him the backing of the group's political structures ahead of the governorship election.
The resolution was reached during a meeting held on Monday, where the stakeholders said the governor must publicly identify with the party's presidential project on or before July 21, 2026, or risk losing their support for his re-election bid.
The position was presented by Accord leaders, including Alhaji Abass Olaniyi of Ede North, Elder Timothy Ponle of Boripe Local Government, Mrs. Folasade Owojori of Ife East Local Government and Mrs. Apeke Adewale of Oriade Local Government.
According to the stakeholders, both the governorship and presidential ambitions of the Accord Party are inseparable, stressing that candidates seeking elective offices on the party's platform must demonstrate equal commitment to its national leadership.
They also called on Adeleke to formally invite Olawepo-Hashim to Osun State within the next two weeks to lead the party's presidential campaign, saying such a move would reaffirm his loyalty to the party.
The leaders noted that many of them left the Peoples Democratic Party alongside Adeleke and Olawepo-Hashim to strengthen the Accord Party, insisting that it would be unacceptable for any candidate to embrace the party for one election while distancing himself from its presidential candidate.
"We left the PDP to build the Accord Party into a formidable political platform. The party cannot be good enough for a governorship ambition and suddenly become irrelevant when it comes to its presidential candidate. Loyalty to the party must be complete and reciprocal," the stakeholders said.
They warned that if the governor failed to meet the July 21 deadline, they would begin consultations with other governorship candidates ahead of the August 2026 election, adding that their members across the state would not mobilise support for any candidate unwilling to campaign for the party's presidential flag bearer.
The stakeholders maintained that their demand was aimed at strengthening the Accord Party and ensuring unity among its candidates.
They also reaffirmed their support for Olawepo-Hashim's presidential aspiration and urged party members across Osun State to remain united as preparations for the 2026 governorship and 2027 presidential elections gather momentum.
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