₦airaland Forum

Fresh indications of a possible realignment within Nigeria's opposition political landscape emerged on Friday as the presidential candidate of the Accord Party, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, received his Social Democratic Party (SDP) counterpart, Prince Adewole Adebayo, amid intensifying consultations among leading pro-democracy figures ahead of the 2027 general election.

The meeting, held in Abuja, is the latest in a series of strategic engagements involving presidential candidates and political leaders with long records in Nigeria's pro-democracy struggle and a shared commitment to centre-left political ideals.

Highly placed sources disclosed that the consultations are exploring avenues for democratic cooperation, institutional reforms and a coordinated response to what participants describe as the growing constraints on Nigeria's democratic space.

The latest engagement comes as discussions between Dr. Hashim and the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, have also intensified, fuelling speculation that a broader pro-democracy platform may be taking shape ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to sources, the talks are driven by concerns over the state of Nigeria's democracy, the future of opposition politics and the need to build a credible national alternative, capable of defending constitutional governance, electoral integrity and democratic freedoms.

Although details of the consultations remain closely guarded, insiders said the conversations have gone beyond routine political meetings and are increasingly focused on long-term cooperation among political leaders who share similar democratic values and reform agendas.

The consultations come months after Dr. Hashim, alongside leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), launched the Movement for Democratic Renewal (MDR), a national platform established to promote democratic renewal, strengthen institutions and mobilise citizens around governance reforms.

Promoters of the movement argue that Nigeria's democratic institutions have suffered serious setbacks arising from persistent internal crises within political parties and declining public confidence in electoral and governance institutions, making broad based democratic reforms an urgent national priority. Hashim Co-Chairs MDR with NLC President, Comrade Ajero, one of the last standing trade Unionist with clear ideological clarity in the Trade Union Movement.

While none of the political leaders has publicly disclosed the full scope of the ongoing consultations, sources confirmed that engagements with other opposition presidential candidates, civil society leaders and pro-democracy stakeholders are expected to continue in the coming weeks.

DeeGov123:
Prison wardens will have no jobs again

Parachoko:
The FG should look into this issue

The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has called for the release of up to 90 percent of inmates in Nigerian correctional centres through lawful and evidence based criminal justice reforms, saying recent disclosures by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, have reinforced the organisation's long-standing advocacy for comprehensive prison decongestion.

PeacePro recalled that in 2021, when the Federal Government proposed releasing 30 percent of prison inmates to address congestion, the organisation publicly urged the government to increase the figure to 70 percent, arguing that the majority of inmates were awaiting trial or incarcerated for offences that did not justify prolonged imprisonment.

According to the Executive Director of PeacePro, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the Minister's recent disclosure that 93 percent of inmates are state offenders while only 7 percent are federal offenders provides compelling evidence that Nigeria's correctional crisis is primarily a challenge for the criminal justice system rather than one of prison capacity.

Hamzat also commended the Minister for ordering an audit of inmates detained over minor fines and compensation judgments shortly after assuming office.

The exercise identified more than 4,000 inmates whose continued detention cost the government far more than the value of their fines, leading to an immediate five percent reduction in the prison population.

He described the reform as a practical demonstration that many inmates should never have been incarcerated in the first place.

"The Minister has courageously asked the most important question, are our correctional centres rightfully overcrowded? His own findings that a significant proportion of inmates are imprisoned for offences that do not warrant incarceration validate PeacePro's position that Nigeria must fundamentally rethink its approach to criminal justice," Hamzat said.

PeacePro also welcomed the Minister's disclosure that recidivism has fallen significantly following expanded access to education and vocational training within correctional facilities, describing the development as proof that rehabilitation is more effective than excessive incarceration.

Hamzat clarified that its recommendation does not seek the indiscriminate release of dangerous criminals. Instead, it advocates a comprehensive review of inmates awaiting trial, persons detained for minor and non-violent offences, those unable to perfect bail because of poverty, and offenders eligible for non custodial measures such as community service, probation, restorative justice, and fines.

Hamzat called on state governors, chief judges, attorneys general, the Nigerian Correctional Service, and other criminal justice institutions to work together on a nationwide review of custodial cases to ensure that imprisonment is reserved for offenders who genuinely pose a threat to public safety.

He further expressed PeacePro's readiness to partner with the Ministry of Interior and other relevant institutions in developing sustainable prison decongestion policies that strengthen justice, rehabilitation, and public safety.

PeacePro commended Dr. Tunji-Ojo for what it described as bold, evidence based leadership in the correctional sector, urging all levels of government to build on the ongoing reforms.

"The future of Nigeria's correctional system lies not in building more prisons but in building a smarter, fairer, and more effective justice system. A nation is judged not by how many people it imprisons, but by how fairly it administers justice," Hamzat said.

FUNMI101:
The Accord Party elders are making a fair ideological point. A candidate cannot conveniently use a party's grassroots structure for a state-level race while ignoring the party’s national standard-bearer. They are demanding institutional discipline.

Accord Elders and Stakeholders in Osun State have issued a seven day ultimatum to Governor Ademola Adeleke to publicly endorse the Accord Party's presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, warning that failure to do so will compel members to withdraw its political structures, supporters and votes from his re-election campaign.

The resolution was reached at a meeting held on Monday, July 13, where party leaders and influential grassroots mobilisers from across Osun State unanimously agreed that Governor Adeleke must, on or before July 21, 2026, publicly identify with the Accord Party's presidential project or forfeit the political support of the forum.

Speaking on behalf of the leaders were Alhaji Abass Olaniyi, Accord chieftain and political mobiliser (Ede North); Elder Timothy Ponle, apex political leader (Boripe Local Government); Hon. Mrs. Folasade Owojori (Ife East Local Government); and Hon. Mrs. Apeke Adewale (Oriade Local Government).

The stakeholders, many of whom moved with both Governor Adeleke and Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the Accord Party, said the party's governorship and presidential projects are inseparable and must be pursued with equal commitment.

According to them, it is politically unacceptable for any candidate to seek electoral victory on the platform of Accord Party while distancing himself from the party's presidential candidate.

They 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 and demonstrate his commitment to the Accord Party at the national level.

"We left PDP to build Accord 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," they declared.

The stakeholders warned that failure to comply with the July 21 deadline would leave them with no alternative but to commence consultations with other governorship candidates ahead of the August 2026 election.

"Our members are spread across all local government areas of Osun State. We have invested our structures, time and political capital in building the Accord Party. We cannot, in good conscience, mobilise our supporters for a governorship candidate who refuses to mobilise for the party's presidential candidate."

They emphasized that its position is intended to strengthen, not weaken, the Accord Party by ensuring that every candidate contesting on its platform remains committed to the party's collective vision and national leadership.

They reaffirmed its unwavering support for the presidential aspiration of Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim and urged all Accord Party members across Osun State to remain united behind the party's national project as preparations intensify for the 2026 governorship and 2027 presidential elections.

erad:
You're the one not making sense. Even accord themselves know their candidate stands no chance, so what's the point? For a party that was in limbo in the state till Adeleke came, should they not apply wisdom? You know the influence Adeleke and his supporters are bringing into your party, you know his election is before the presidential election and that is the most important as of now. So why not be on the same page with him till after his election when you all can reach a compromise on the most suitable way to move forward.

They know fully well he's only playing politics, so them publicly sabotaging him is to whose benefit? Definetly not the party's.

The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) is set to formally seek the partnership of the Borno State Government for the establishment of Africa's Peace City (APC), a landmark initiative aimed at transforming the once dreaded Sambisa Forest into one of Africa's foremost centres for peace, human security, innovation and sustainable development.

The proposal, which will be presented to the Borno State Government, envisions the transformation of a landscape historically associated with violent extremism into a global symbol of resilience, productivity and African renewal.

According to the Executive Director of PeacePro, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, the initiative is founded on a simple but profound philosophy: "Peace is not only protected by security; it is sustained by opportunity."

He said that although Borno State has borne the scars of insurgency for more than a decade, the courage of its people, the sacrifices of Nigeria's security forces and the commitment of successive governments have created a rare opportunity to build one of Africa's greatest post-conflict success stories.

"History has already written the story of Sambisa as a theatre of conflict. We now have an opportunity to write a new chapter, one that tells the story of peace, innovation, investment and human progress," Hamzat said.

PeacePro will request that the Borno State Government allocate a suitable portion of Sambisa Forest, or any other location it considers appropriate, for the development of the project.

The organisation said the choice of Sambisa is both strategic and deeply symbolic.

"For years, Sambisa Forest has represented one of the darkest chapters in Africa's contemporary security history. Transforming part of that same landscape into Africa's Peace City would send a powerful message to the world, that Africa does not merely recover from conflict; it transforms it into opportunity."

Hamzat said the project would fundamentally change global perceptions of both Sambisa Forest and Borno State.

"The narrative must move from 'the forest of conflict' to 'the forest of renewal.' A place once synonymous with terrorism can become a destination for peace, education, technology, investment and human development."

PeacePro noted that Sambisa's strategic location, with links to Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe States and proximity to Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic, positions Africa's Peace City to become a regional hub for peacebuilding, trade, research and cooperation across the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel.

According to PeacePro, the project has the potential to attract significant domestic and international investment, generate thousands of jobs, strengthen food and energy security, promote technological advancement and reposition Nigeria as a continental leader in peace innovation and post conflict transformation.

"History remembers societies not only for the crises they endured but for the vision they created afterwards," Hamzat said.

"Borno has demonstrated extraordinary resilience. Africa's Peace City offers an opportunity to convert that resilience into a permanent legacy, a city where Africa proves to itself and to the world that peace is not only something to negotiate; it is something to build."

PeacePro described the proposal as one of the most ambitious peacebuilding and regional development initiatives ever conceived in Africa, capable of redefining both the future of Borno State and the global narrative surrounding post-conflict recovery.

maasoap:
You didn't make sense in your logic and analysis, my response to you is not about Osun or Anambra politics. You didn't make any sense.
Ademola is supporting Tinubu for president but you're saying APC supporters are the ones sponsoring his party exco members to be asking him to stop supporting Tinubu.
Make it makes sense to me

maasoap:
Do you know what you just read and your own response at all? Adeleke is supporting Tinubu reelection bid, but you're saying APC is the one sponsoring these people to tell Adeleke to stop supporting Tinubu. Oga, you don't know what you are saying

Burob:
You know exactly what u are talking about, 100% correct.

The Adelekes are more useful to Tinubu in Osun state, than the local APC chapter in the state.

Burob:
Empty Barrel Accord Nonentities, he will win Osun State easily, Tinubu is supporting him, yourself & press9jatv will wail on profusely.

Holluwhakemmy:
if you have respect for your mum and other women in general you won't be vomiting rubbish on public forum.
Those who live in glass house don't throw stones, so you should live by example

press9jatv:
I'm not a coward here. Adeleke's defeat is imminent

erad:
Lol... It's funny accord people actually think they hold any influence on Adeleke's reelection.

You guys are of no relevance. Your party is all that is needed, not you. Adeleke only needs the platform, Osun indigenes will do the rest. Trying to blackmail him with this nonsense is exactly what it is, nonsense.

We know this playbook, it's the playbook desperate APC has used over and over again. Fund some lapdogs within the opposition party to disrupt the party from within. Fortunately, Adeleke is a movement that is immune to that nonsense.

The political crisis within the Accord Party in Osun State has deepened as party executives have warned Governor Ademola Adeleke to either align with the party’s national presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, or risk losing their support ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

The executives, in a statement issued in Osogbo, accused the governor of enjoying the benefits of the Accord platform while failing to fully identify with the party’s national political direction.

They declared that Governor Adeleke must choose between supporting the presidential ambition of Gbenga Hashim, the Accord Party’s national candidate, or facing a possible political realignment that could favour the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji.

The statement was jointly signed by the Accord Party’s Osun State Public Relations Officer, Daniel Adedayo, and State Youth Leader, Tolulope Babalola.

The executives argued that Governor Adeleke cannot simultaneously operate on the Accord platform while supporting political interests outside the party’s national structure.

"If the governor believes President Bola Tinubu deserves another term in 2027, then Bola Oyebamiji should equally be considered fit to govern Osun State," they stated.

They maintained that the governor’s position as the leading political figure of Accord in Osun does not confer the authority to determine the party’s national direction, stressing that every member and stakeholder has a responsibility to respect the party’s decisions.

"Governor Adeleke remains only one voice among many in the party nationwide and cannot dictate for the party," the executives warned.

They urged the governor to demonstrate commitment to the Accord Party by supporting Hashim’s presidential project and strengthening the party’s national relevance ahead of the 2027 general election.

The development adds a new layer of complexity to Osun’s political contest as Governor Adeleke navigates the battle for a second term amid growing questions over party cohesion, legal challenges surrounding Accord’s participation, and competing national political alignments.

The disagreement also highlights the broader struggle within emerging political parties between state level electoral interests and national ambitions ahead of the 2027 political cycle.

enda1992:
Dr Gbenga Hashim needs to go hard on them. All things been equal, he did the necessary things needed to have gotten to that stage. There was transparency in the primaries. I see no reason why they should try to deprive him.

simpleseyi:
You should have added VP and ask Tinubu to replace Shettima with Mama Peace imPatient Jonathan. Yeye person

The Federal High Court in Abuja witnessed an overwhelming turnout on Thursday as hundreds of supporters of Accord Party presidential hopeful, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, gathered in solidarity while he formally commenced legal proceedings to reclaim what he describes as his lawfully earned presidential mandate.

The large crowd, made up of party members, youth groups, women, and political associates from different parts of the country, filled the court premises and surrounding areas, making movement around the court complex slow and difficult as supporters waited to demonstrate their backing for the presidential hopeful.

Hashim has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order compelling the Accord Party to recognise him as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election and transmit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In an Originating Summons filed before the court, Hashim named the Accord Party and INEC as the first and second defendants respectively.

The plaintiff is asking the court to determine whether the party's failure to upload his name to INEC's nomination portal, despite his emergence as the sole winner of the Accord Party presidential primary held on May 30, 2026, violates the Electoral Act, 2026, the Constitution, and INEC's Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.

Hashim is seeking a declaration that the party's refusal to forward his name to INEC amounts to a breach of Section 86 of the Electoral Act, 2026, as well as Clauses 28(1) and 28(2) of the electoral guidelines governing the nomination of candidates.

He is also asking the court to order the Accord Party to upload and submit his name to INEC as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Alternatively, the plaintiff is asking the court to direct the party to conduct a fresh presidential primary in which he would participate should the court decline to order the submission of his name.

In an affidavit supporting the suit, Hashim stated that he is a registered and financial member of the Accord Party and claimed to have sponsored the party's electronic membership drive with a payment of ₦7 million.
He further averred that he paid ₦50 million as the prescribed nomination fee to contest the party's presidential primary and emerged as the sole aspirant and winner of the exercise conducted on May 30, 2026. According to him, the primary election was monitored by officials of INEC in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Hashim alleged that despite his victory, the Accord Party failed to submit his name to the electoral commission as its presidential candidate.

He also claimed that the party did not provide aspirants with guidelines for the conduct of the presidential primary, contrary to INEC's regulations, but said he proceeded with the process based on assurances allegedly given by the party's national leadership.

In the written address filed in support of the suit, counsel to the plaintiff, Chief Henry Akunebu (SAN), argued that political parties are legally bound to comply with the Electoral Act, their constitutions, and INEC's guidelines in the nomination of candidates.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria contended that once a political party conducts a valid primary election and produces a winner, it has a statutory obligation to submit the name of that winner to INEC and cannot act arbitrarily to deny the successful aspirant the benefits of the democratic process.
The plaintiff urged the court to uphold the principles of internal party democracy by granting all the reliefs sought in the suit.

At Thursday's proceedings before Court 5 on the fourth floor of the Federal High Court, counsel representing INEC applied for an adjournment to enable the commission respond to the suit.

Counsel for the Accord Party aligned with the application and also supported the request for an adjournment. However, counsel to Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, Chief Henry Akunebu (SAN), opposed the application and urged the court to proceed with the hearing.

After hearing all parties, the presiding judge granted the application for adjournment and fixed Tuesday, July 14, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.

The case is expected to test the application of the Electoral Act, 2026, and reinforce judicial scrutiny of internal party democracy ahead of the 2027 general election.

Former House of Representatives aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Mopelola Abdulmalik Bashir, has appealed to the leadership of the party in Kwara State to honour the unwavering loyalty, sacrifices and contributions of women by conceding the offices of Deputy Governor and Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly to qualified female party members.

Speaking in Ilorin following the conclusion of the APC National Assembly primaries, Mopelola noted that while no female aspirant secured the party's ticket for the National Assembly, the APC still has a historic opportunity to further consolidate its reputation as the most gender inclusive political party in Nigeria.

She commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for what she described as an unprecedented commitment to women's participation in governance, noting that his administration has transformed Kwara State into a national model for inclusive leadership.

According to her, the Governor's deliberate policy of appointing and empowering competent women at strategic levels of government has become one of the defining legacies of the Otoge administration and should be sustained beyond his tenure.

"His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has consistently demonstrated uncommon confidence in the capacity of women to lead and deliver. That bold leadership has not only inspired women across Kwara State but has also earned our party national recognition as a progressive platform that genuinely believes in equal opportunity."

Mopelola said the outcome of the National Assembly primaries should not be viewed as a setback for women but as an opportunity for the party to once again demonstrate visionary leadership.

"I humbly appeal to our respected party leaders to honour the loyalty and immense contributions of women by considering competent female party members for the offices of Deputy Governor and Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly.

Such a decision would reinforce the APC's progressive identity and preserve one of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's most enduring legacies."

She noted that women have remained among the APC's most dependable pillars, contributing immensely to electoral victories through grassroots mobilisation, community engagement and unwavering support for the party's programmes and candidates.

According to her, women across the sixteen local government areas have stood firmly with the APC from the days of the Otoge movement to the present administration, often serving as the backbone of campaign structures and voter mobilisation efforts.

"Our women have remained loyal through every political season. They have defended the ideals of our great party, mobilised support at the grassroots and contributed significantly to every electoral success recorded by the APC. They deserve to be further entrusted with strategic leadership responsibilities."

Mopelola emphasized that her appeal was not based on sentiment but on the APC's established tradition of rewarding dedication, competence and loyalty.

She expressed confidence that the party leadership, under the guidance of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, would continue to make decisions that promote unity, fairness and inclusive governance.

She also reaffirmed the total commitment of women within the APC to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the party's governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, assuring that women would continue to mobilise massively to ensure another resounding electoral victory for the party.

She concluded by expressing optimism that the APC would once again make history by producing a female Deputy Governor and a female Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, describing such a decision as a fitting recognition of women's loyalty and a worthy continuation of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's transformative legacy of inclusive governance in Kwara State.

The Accord Alliance Movement (AAM), also known as the Movement for New Nigeria, on Wednesday formally reaffirmed its support for Dr. Gbenga Joel Olawepo-Hashim as the Accord Party's presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, while unveiling a new political movement aimed at mobilising support across the country.

Speaking at the inauguration of the movement in Abuja, the Director-General of the AAM, Hon. Light Adah Adoko, described the event as a defining moment in the group's political journey, saying the coalition was established to promote what it called a "New Nigeria" vision.

Adoko alleged that some forces within the Accord Party were attempting to undermine the party's internal democratic process by frustrating Hashim's emergence as the party's presidential candidate.

According to him, the movement believes Hashim remains the party's sole presidential aspirant and deserves the ticket, arguing that any attempt to deny him the nomination would amount to an erosion of internal democracy.

"The Accord Alliance Movement was born out of necessity to defend democratic values and the aspirations of members who believe in a transparent and credible political process," he said.

Adoko also criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing a vote of no confidence over what he described as its inability to adequately address insecurity, economic hardship and the rising cost of living.

He said the movement was convinced that Nigeria required a new direction anchored on accountable leadership, national unity and inclusive development.

The AAM Director-General described Hashim as a longstanding advocate of democracy whose political ideals, he said, resonate with many Nigerians seeking change.

He urged members of the movement and supporters of the Accord Party to remain united and committed to building a broad-based political platform ahead of the 2027 general election.

Adoko said the newly inaugurated movement would embark on nationwide mobilisation to strengthen grassroots participation and promote the party's candidates during the elections.

He expressed confidence that the Accord Alliance Movement would evolve into a formidable political force dedicated to restoring hope, peace, progress and prosperity in Nigeria.

The event concluded with a renewed pledge by members of the movement to support the Accord Party and work towards what they described as the emergence of a "New Nigeria" under the leadership of Dr. Gbenga Joel Olawepo-Hashim.