Accord Rejects Imumolen’s Endorsement of APC Candidate in Osun
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
The Accord Party has rejected the endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, by its expelled former 2023 presidential candidate, Chris Imumolen.
But in a statement issued on Thursday, Accord National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, dismissed the claim, saying Imumolen was no longer a member of the party and had no authority to speak on its behalf.
Imumolen, who has been presenting himself as the factional presidential candidate and factional National Chairman of Accord, had announced his support for Oyebamiji during the APC campaign rally in Osogbo.
He had also claimed that the Accord Party had withdrawn its support for Governor Ademola Adeleke and would no longer back his re-election bid in the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
However, Mgbudem described Imumolen’s action as an indication that he was no longer a member of the party, stressing that his decision to appear at an APC rally and endorse its candidate showed that he did not represent 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,” Mgbudem said.
The party also rejected Imumolen’s claim to be a “factional chairman” of Accord, insisting that there was no faction within the party.
Mgbudem described the claim as “mischievous” and said Imumolen’s continued presentation of himself as a factional chairman was based on what he described as an unfounded belief.
“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,” he said.
He further dismissed Imumolen’s political relevance, describing him as a “political hireling and hustler” and arguing that he lacked the political structure required to influence the outcome of the election.
According to the Accord chairman, Imumolen’s endorsement of the APC candidate would have no effect on the party’s support base or its chances in the August 15 election.
The party expressed confidence that Governor Ademola Adeleke would secure victory under the Accord platform, describing Osun State as a stronghold of the party.
“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,” Accord said.
The party also accused the APC of resorting to what it described as violence, harassment and intimidation because of its alleged fear of losing the election.
Accord alleged that some federal institutions, including the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), were being used to mount pressure on the Osun State Government, residents and members of the party.
The party called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain neutral and ensure that the August 15 election was conducted in a free, fair and credible manner.
It also urged security agencies to remain professional and impartial in carrying out their responsibilities before, during and after the election.
Accord further appealed to the international community, including the European Union, African Union, ECOWAS, the United States and the United Kingdom, to monitor the election closely and take appropriate action against anyone found to have compromised the electoral process.
The party said its confidence in victory was based on what it described as Adeleke’s achievements and transformational leadership since assuming office.
“Let the Osun State governorship election set a new national standard in the conduct of elections in Nigeria,” the party said.
