The Lagos State chairman of the Accord Party, Dele Oladeji, has rejected claims that the party endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027, insisting that no recognised National Executive Committee meeting approved such a decision.
Oladeji, who is also Secretary of the Forum of Accord Party Chairmen in Southern Nigeria, described the reported endorsement as false and said Accord remained committed to participating fully in the 2027 general elections.
He spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday while reacting to comments attributed to Prof. Christopher Imumolen, who has emerged as the presidential candidate of a faction of Accord ahead of the 2027 election.
“Accord did not and will not endorse Tinubu for a second term. Any person claiming otherwise is playing politics or engaging in anti-party activities,” Oladeji said.
He maintained that the matter had never been presented for consideration or approval at any meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee.
“Accord has not at any time discussed any endorsement of President Tinubu at any of our NEC meetings.
“So, there is no basis whatsoever for anybody to claim that Accord has endorsed President Tinubu,” he added.
Oladeji also accused Imumolen of presenting a personal position as the official position of the party.
“Chris Imumolen is impersonating the Accord presidential candidate and declaring support for President Tinubu is political shadow boxing for media attention,” he said.
The Lagos chairman further questioned Imumolen’s membership of Accord, alleging that his name was not on the party’s current membership register.
“His name is not on the Accord membership register, as the register he was on had been phased out,” Oladeji said.
He challenged Imumolen to provide evidence of his membership and participation in recognised Accord structures.
The disagreement is the latest development in a long-running internal dispute over the leadership and presidential ticket of Accord ahead of the 2027 elections.
In April, the party’s national chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, said Accord had not endorsed any presidential candidate and rejected reports that the party had adopted Tinubu.
A faction of the party subsequently announced Imumolen as its presidential candidate following a national presidential primary held in Lagos.
The faction said delegates from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory participated in the process.
The Lagos chapter has also publicly backed another presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, while unveiling its candidates for the 2027 elections.
Oladeji said Accord would continue to operate as an independent political platform and contest elective positions across the country.
He said the party would field candidates for the presidency, governorships, Senate, House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly.
“Only an unserious person and political party will endorse the candidate of another party. Accord will not do such,” he said.
The Lagos chapter has already presented certificates of return to candidates for various elective positions ahead of the 2027 polls.
Oladeji urged members and supporters to disregard reports suggesting that Accord had entered an agreement to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The latest controversy underscores the internal divisions surrounding Accord as political parties begin consolidating their structures and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
