Federal Court Deregistration of Accord Party Sparks Adeleke Re-election Dispute

A Federal High Court judgment that deregistered five political parties, including the Accord Party, has created a political flashpoint in Osun State ahead of the August 15, 2026 gubernatorial election. Governor Ademola Adeleke, who currently governs on the Accord Party platform and intends to seek a second term, immediately challenged the ruling.

His campaign council and the opposition All Progressives Congress offered sharply different interpretations of what the court's decision means for his candidacy. The APC's governorship campaign council in Osun argued that the deregistration judgment raises substantial legal barriers to Adeleke's re-election plans.

According to the party's position, the governor cannot contest the 2026 race unless the Federal High Court's ruling is reversed through an appeal or unless the Court of Appeal intervenes. The APC's media team said the judgment carries significant implications for Adeleke's political future and noted the party's respect for the court's authority.

Adeleke's campaign council and his spokesperson disputed this reading. They contended that the Federal High Court's ruling violated an existing Court of Appeal order that instructed the lower court to pause proceedings in the matter.

The governor's team expressed surprise that the Federal High Court delivered its judgment despite the appellate court's stay order. They stated the Court of Appeal has scheduled the case for May 22, 2026, and expressed confidence the higher court will resolve the dispute in their favour.

Adeleke's campaign insisted the deregistration judgment will not obstruct his re-election efforts and accused the APC of attempting to distract from their actual political campaign. The spokesman for Adeleke's re-election council stated the governor remains focused on the August 15 poll.

The competing narratives reflect a fundamental disagreement about whether a lower court ruling can stand when a higher court has ordered a stay on proceedings.