Accord Party: Hashim’s supporters appeal to INEC over presidential candidacy

Supporters of the Accord Party presidential candidate, Dr Gbenga Hashim, have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to protect his candidature and uphold the outcome of the party’s presidential primaries.

The supporters, under the umbrella of the Hashim Progressives Movement (HPM), said this at a press conference on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the North-West Zonal Coordinator of HPM, Mallam Bashir Alade, alleged that some individuals within and outside the party were plotting to undermine the mandate given to Hashim by party delegates.

Alade said Hashim remained the legal and legitimate presidential candidate of the Accord Party, having emerged through a process conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution.

According to him, any attempt to substitute the candidate or alter the outcome of the primaries will be contrary to the wishes of party members.

He condemned what he described as clandestine moves, aimed at undermining the outcome of the party’s presidential primaries and urged stakeholders to respect due process.

“We call on INEC, security agencies, the National Working Committee of the Accord Party and all lovers of democracy to ensure that the mandate of Dr Gbenga Olawepo Hashim is protected,” he said.

Alade said members of the party across the North-West remained committed to defending the mandate freely given to Hashim at the party’s primaries.

He added that delegates and members who participated in the process did so with confidence in the candidate’s leadership qualities and vision for the country.

Also speaking, the HPM North-West Zonal Women Leader, Amb. Aisha Abdullahi, urged party members to remain calm, united and loyal to the party.

She reaffirmed the group’s support for Hashim and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the country if elected.

The group said members from Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states attended the meeting and resolved to support Hashim’s candidature.