The Accord Party has rejected the endorsement of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, by its expelled former presidential candidate, Chris Imumolen, insisting that Governor Ademola Adeleke remains its candidate for Saturday’s election.
Imumolen appeared at the APC campaign finale in Osogbo on Thursday, where he announced that his faction had withdrawn its support for Adeleke and endorsed Oyebamiji.
The declaration came shortly before the August 15 governorship election, setting off a fresh dispute over who speaks for Accord in the state.
Imumolen, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the Accord platform, described himself as the party’s factional national chairman while announcing the endorsement.
But Accord National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, rejected the claim, saying Imumolen had been expelled and no longer represented the party.
Mgbudem said Imumolen’s appearance at the APC rally was evidence that he was no longer a member of Accord.
“That Imumolen attended the APC rally in Osogbo where he backed its candidate is a glaring testament that he is not a member of Accord and does not represent the party in any capacity,” he said.
He also dismissed the description of Imumolen as a “factional chairman”, insisting that there was no faction within the party.
“The purported appellation, ‘factional chairman’ of Accord is not only mischievous, it is a delusion of the grandeur that exists in his fertile imagination, as the party has no faction,” Mgbudem said.
Accord reaffirmed its support for Adeleke, saying the governor remained the party’s official candidate for the election.
“Osun State is an Accord stronghold; the people are in one accord with Governor Ademola Adeleke and will overwhelmingly vote for the party on Saturday, August 15,” the party said.
The development highlights a prolonged dispute over the leadership of Accord, with Imumolen and the Mgbudem-led leadership taking opposing positions.
Mgbudem had previously maintained that Imumolen was expelled from Accord in November 2024 and that the party had no faction.
The party has also repeatedly reaffirmed its support for Adeleke ahead of the election, with its leadership campaigning for the governor’s re-election.
Accord further accused the APC of using violence, intimidation and federal institutions to frustrate the Adeleke administration and its members.
The allegations were rejected by the party’s opponents and were not independently established in the statement.
Accord called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to remain neutral and ensure a credible election, while urging security agencies to conduct themselves professionally.
The party also appealed to international observers and organisations, including the European Union, African Union, ECOWAS, United States and United Kingdom, to monitor the election.
The Osun governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, with Adeleke seeking re-election under Accord against APC candidate Oyebamiji and other contenders.
The competing claims from the two Accord camps now add a fresh political twist to the final hours before voters head to the polls.
