President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has said the economic positions of Accord Party and Social Democratic Party presidential candidates, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim and Adewole Adebayo deserve serious public attention ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Comrade Joe Ajaero, 
Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim
Ajaero made the remarks during an interview, at the weekend , with Seun Okinbaloye on Mic On, where he was asked about the economic policy of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
Rather than focusing on Atiku’s proposal, the NLC president said he had examined the positions of Hashim and Adebayo and found their approach sufficiently different to warrant engagement.
“I have looked at Gbenga Hashim’s position and I think he’s an expert to an extent. I also looked at Adebayo. I may listen to them.”
Ajaero contrasted their positions with those of Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he described as sharing broadly similar economic thinking.
“Peter Obi, Atiku and Asiwaju, they all have the same position and they have shown that they are market people from far right.”
He added that Hashim and Adebayo, by contrast, were bringing “new ideas worthy of engagement.”
Ajaero’s comments have drawn attention to Hashim’s economic platform, particularly his Energy First agenda, which places affordable energy, increased domestic production, industrialisation and productive capacity at the centre of his proposed economic transformation.
Hashim has proposed a ₦605 per litre starting petrol price, with a longer-term target of ₦200–₦300 through lower production costs, domestic refining, increased crude production and improved efficiency.
He has also pledged to raise Nigeria’s crude production to at least four million barrels per day within 24 months, while expanding domestic refining and energy infrastructure as part of a broader plan to make Nigeria a major global energy power.
