Former presidential candidate and Accord Party chieftain Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has issued a stern warning against the rising tide of political violence in Nigeria, cautioning that targeted attacks on political opponents threaten to push the nation’s already fragile security situation to a tipping point.
​Olawepo-Hashim delivered the warning on Saturday, November 7, 2026, in Abuja during a solidarity visit to activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, following a recent violent assault on Sowore in Ekiti State.
​Addressing journalists during the visit, Olawepo-Hashim called directly on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rein in members of his administration and political allies whose rhetoric and actions risk stoking partisan conflict. He noted that a nation currently grappling with widespread insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping cannot bear the additional strain of politically motivated violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
​”Nigeria cannot afford to add political violence to the general insecurity in the land,” Olawepo-Hashim declared, urging security agencies and political leaders to uphold constitutional freedoms and guarantee open democratic space. He added that those who recklessly provoke political strife are often not the ones who suffer its ultimate consequences.
​Reflecting on their shared history, Olawepo-Hashim recalled his long-standing bond with Sowore, dating back to their joint participation in the 1989/1990 pro-democracy movement against military dictatorship at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
He emphasized that their shared commitment to civil liberties makes it imperative to stand united against authoritarian tendencies and political intimidation.
​Expressing gratitude for the solidarity visit, Sowore reaffirmed his resolve, stating that the attack in Ekiti State would not intimidate him or deter his ongoing campaign for democratic accountability and bad-governance reforms across the country.
