By Ayodele Oni
The number of Presidential Candidates who will be on the ballot for the 2027 election has increased from 18 to 19.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed that it will add Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim of Accord Party to the final list of candidates for the 2027 presidential election.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, announced this in Abuja at an event organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
Amupitan assured that the Commission will comply with the Federal High Court judgment on Hashim’s candidacy, revealing that the presidential field has now grown to 19.
The addition follows the October 5, 2026 judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered Accord Party to recognise Hashim as its presidential candidate and forward his name to INEC. That judgment ended months of internal tussle over the party’s ticket.
Amupitan said INEC will reflect the court order in its official records, moving the number of presidential candidates from the 18 published in September to 19.
The Commission is expected to publish an updated final list to formally include Hashim in line with the court directive.
Meanwhile, following appointment of Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke as Coordinator of APC Presidential campaign council for the state, the Accord presidential candidate for the 2027 election, will work directly with the party’s National Assembly candidates in Osun State to boost campaign coordination ahead of the polls.
The South-West Coordinator of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement (GHSM), Alhaji Abass Olaniyi, disclosed this on Friday while briefing members on INEC’s inclusion of Hashim on the final list of presidential candidates.
Olaniyi said the development has opened a new phase in the movement’s drive to mobilise over 3 million votes for Accord in the presidential election.
According to him, direct collaboration between Hashim and Accord’s NASS candidates in Osun will link the presidential campaign with constituency concerns and strengthen coordination across the party.
The briefing came after INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced that the commission will comply with the Federal High Court judgment directing it to include Hashim on the presidential list, bringing the total number of candidates to 19.
Olaniyi said the court ruling and INEC’s position have clarified Hashim’s place in the race and shifted focus to campaign mobilisation.
He added that GHSM will intensify engagement with party structures and legislative candidates across the South-West.
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