A former chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gbenga OlawepoHashim, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the Accord Party (AP).

Hashim disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by his media office.

The former presidential candidate of the Trust Party (TP) in the 2019 elections said his political structure had commenced extensive grassroots mobilisation of party members across the country.

According to him, more than one million supporters have so far been mobilised into the AP as part of efforts to build a formidable political movement ahead of the 2027 general election.

“We have quietly mobilised about one million of our supporters into the Accord Party, and we are still doing so,” he stated.

Hashim dismissed comments reportedly credited to a governor suggesting that the AP would not field a presidential candidate in 2027, describing the remark as an overreach.

“That is an overreach for him. The presidency of Nigeria is too big for anyone to allocate. It is in the hands of God and the Nigerian people,” he said.

Hashim maintained that political actors often make such pronouncements out of fear and political survival instincts within Nigeria’s highly competitive political environment.

“I know the governor is scared stiff that if he does not go about dancing and declaring support for the incumbent president in a rival party, they would rig him out. But that does not give him the power to allocate the presidency,” he said.

He argued that political power ultimately belongs to the Nigerian electorate and cautioned against attempts to predetermine the outcome of future elections.

“When power changes hands, those who think they can control it will be shocked and humbled,” he said.

Hashim also promised to provide Nigerians with credible leadership alternatives anchored on competence, national unity, economic revival, and inclusive development if elected president in 2027.