…Accord supporters raise concerns as party intensifies North-West mobilisation and targets six million votes
The defacement of campaign posters belonging to Accord Party presidential candidate, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, in Katsina State has raised concerns among his supporters, coming at a time when the party is stepping up its political mobilisation across the North-West ahead of the 2027 general election.
The posters, which were displayed as part of efforts to promote Hashim’s presidential ambition and strengthen his visibility in the state, were reportedly vandalised, with some campaign materials deliberately damaged.
Although the incident has generated speculation about possible political motives, the identities of those responsible remain unknown. No evidence has so far established any link between the perpetrators and a particular political party.
Some Accord supporters, however, suspect that individuals sympathetic to either the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or the African Democratic Congress (ADC) may be behind the act. They argue that the growing visibility of Hashim and the Accord Party in the North-West could be intensifying competition in a region where established political parties have traditionally enjoyed strong structures.
The incident comes as Hashim’s supporters expand their grassroots activities across Kano, Katsina, Kaduna and Jigawa, with increasing attention being given to rural communities and areas campaign organisers describe as underserved or politically neglected.
At the centre of the mobilisation is an ambitious target of six million votes announced by the Hashim Progressive Movement (HPM) for the North-West. The target covers the region’s seven states: Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.
To achieve this, the movement says it is focusing on community-level engagement, consultations with political stakeholders and grassroots mobilisation. Its strategy is intended to extend the campaign beyond major towns and established political centres to reach communities that may have received limited political attention.
In Kano, Hon. Bashir Miko and other political leaders have also pledged to mobilise two million votes for Hashim, signalling the scale of the campaign’s ambition in the state. The figure represents a political target announced by the supporters, rather than a guaranteed electoral outcome.
The growing campaign activities have coincided with reports of political realignments in the region. Media reports in June documented the movement of some former APC stakeholders and members in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina to Accord, following separate mobilisation meetings where they declared support for Hashim.
For Accord supporters, the defacement of the posters goes beyond the destruction of campaign materials. They see it as a reminder of the need to protect political participation and ensure that parties can freely promote their candidates without intimidation or interference.
As preparations for the 2027 presidential election gather momentum, the incident has also drawn attention to the political atmosphere surrounding early campaign activities. While those responsible for the vandalism have yet to be identified, supporters maintain that political differences should be expressed through peaceful engagement and democratic competition.
With the North-West occupying a prominent place in Hashim’s campaign strategy, Accord’s efforts to build a stronger presence across the region are expected to attract further political attention as the race for the 2027 presidency approaches.
