Accord Party Fractures Over Osun Governorship as Rival Leaders Back Different Candidates

The Accord Party is divided over which candidate to support in the upcoming Osun State governorship election, with two competing party leadership structures endorsing opposite sides. Christopher Imumolen, who leads a faction of the party and claims the title of national chairman, publicly backed Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress at an APC rally in Osogbo on Thursday.

Maxwell Mgbudem, recognised as the official national chairman by the party's main structure, has maintained the Accord's support for incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke. Imumolen announced the withdrawal of his faction's backing from Adeleke, stating that his group would instead campaign for Oyebamiji ahead of the August 15, 2026 election.

The move drew immediate rejection from both the Accord Party's official leadership and Adeleke's campaign team. A party statement released Thursday by Mgbudem characterised Imumolen as no longer holding legitimate party membership, describing his endorsement as carrying no weight within the organisation.

The Imole Campaign Council, which manages Adeleke's re-election bid, similarly dismissed Imumolen's move as the act of a factional leader whose position does not reflect the true stance of the Accord Party. The council reaffirmed that the party's officially recognised chairman remained aligned with the governor's candidacy.

This rejection underscores the ongoing internal disputes that have fractured the Accord Party, with different groups claiming legitimate control of the party apparatus. The split highlights broader questions about party discipline and internal governance ahead of a closely contested state election.

Imumolen previously ran as the Accord's presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections. The sources do not clarify the timeline or grounds for any formal expulsion proceedings against Imumolen, though the official party leadership's statements suggest such action has been taken.