...Back Gbenga Hashim to become President in 2027
A growing number of former members and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states have thrown their weight behind the Accord Party and the 2027 presidential ambition of Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, signalling what they describe as a push for a new political direction in Nigeria.
The endorsements were announced during separate mobilisation meetings held across the three North-West states, where political leaders, grassroots organisers, women groups and youth representatives pledged their support for the Accord Party’s growing national campaign ahead of the next general election.
According to the stakeholders, their decision to leave the APC was driven by concerns over economic hardship, insecurity and what they described as a widening gap between government policies and the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ gathering in Kano, former APC stalwart Mallam Goje Bashir said many party loyalists had become disappointed with the current state of affairs in the country.
Bashir, who defected to the Accord Party alongside hundreds of supporters, said he believes Hashim offers a credible alternative capable of uniting Nigerians and addressing the nation’s pressing challenges.
“I was an APC member, but President Tinubu has failed Nigeria. I am now openly declaring support for Dr. Gbenga Hashim of the Accord Party,” he stated.
He expressed confidence that voters across Kano and the wider North would embrace Hashim’s candidacy in 2027.
Also addressing supporters, Hajia Rabi Fagge, a former APC chieftain, said a significant political realignment was already underway across northern Nigeria as citizens seek leadership focused on accountability, development and national renewal.
She argued that the region was increasingly receptive to alternative political voices capable of improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
Similar sentiments were echoed in Jigawa and Katsina states, where political stakeholders maintained that Nigerians are looking for leaders with practical solutions to insecurity, economic challenges and declining living standards.
The Women Leader of the Hashim Progressive Movement, Ambassador Aisha Ibrahim, said the North-West was preparing for another major political shift.
Reflecting on the region’s role in previous elections, she declared that supporters were ready to mobilise for Hashim’s emergence in 2027.
In Jigawa State, the movement’s coordinator, Hon. Abdulrasheed Ali, described Hashim as a politician whose reputation for integrity and credibility distinguishes him from many contemporary political figures.
“Nigeria needs truthful leadership, and Gbenga Hashim represents that vision,” Ali said.
Meanwhile, Katsina State Coordinator Muhammad Abdullahi expressed optimism about what he described as Hashim’s growing popularity among voters searching for an alternative political platform.
According to him, prevailing economic realities have fueled public demand for fresh leadership and a new national direction.
Representatives of Hashim, led by Abdulrazaq Hamzat and accompanied by the FCT Coordinator of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement, Mallam Abubakar Kana, described the endorsements as further evidence of expanding cross-party support for the Accord Party’s message.
They noted that the movement remains open to Nigerians from different political backgrounds who share a commitment to democratic renewal, accountability and inclusive governance.
The representatives said Hashim’s political agenda focuses on national rebuilding, economic recovery, security, job creation and improving the welfare of citizens.
The latest wave of defections is expected to strengthen the Accord Party’s grassroots structures across Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states, with supporters pledging to intensify mobilisation efforts at ward and local government levels ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political analysts note that the North-West remains one of Nigeria’s most influential voting blocs, making any significant political movement within the region potentially important to the outcome of future national elections.
Observers also point to Hashim’s historical ties to Northern Nigeria through his late father, who hailed from Yauri in Kebbi State and was widely regarded as an influential Northern prince, a factor some supporters believe could further boost his appeal across the region.
