December 15, (THEWILL) — Until the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, confirms which of the factions in the Accord Party is authentic, Governor Ademola Adeleke, who defected to the party from the troubled Peoples Democratic Party, PDP may find himself in a very tight corner.
As the body that is responsible for the registration, recognition and regulation of political parties in Nigeria, the INEC recognised Chris Imumolen as the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 general election.
Since September 2025, the party has broken into two factions, led by Imumolen and Barrister Maxwell Mgbudem. The leadership tussle has created an uncertainty that may tax Governor Adeleke’s mettle. According to the Imumolen led faction, Mgbudem was suspended for anti-party activities. Mgbudem on the other hand has rejected the suspension, describing it as invalid, questioning Imumolen’s authority to decide for the party.
In fact, at during the National Executive Committee, NEC, of his faction on December 7, 2025, at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, Mgbudem restated his mandate since July 2024 National Convention when and urged the National Working Committee, NWC, to reposition Accord into a formidable political force ahead of upcoming national elections.
Wielding its power at the weekend, the Imumolen faction tackled Governor Adeleke over his defection to the party. It condemned the defection to the party, describing the move as a ‘back-door entry’ and declaring it ‘invalid.’ According to the Imumolen-led faction, the governor failed to follow proper party procedures raising serious questions about the legitimacy of the governor’s reported action.
Party loyalists fear that the factional crisis threatens internal cohesion and could deepen existing divisions within political circles. They say this development could have far-reaching implications, especially with elections approaching. They warn that party realignments, if not carefully managed, could affect voter confidence and reshape political alliances in the state. Curiously, Governor, Ademola Adeleke, at his defection last Tuesday, disclosed that he joined the Accord Party on November 6th as a platform to seek re-election in 2026, after weeks of consultation and deliberations with stakeholders and opinion leaders.
“Stakeholders and residents of Osun state are aware of why we are taking this important decision. We intend to pursue a second term in office on the platform of the Accord Party to complete ongoing delivery of good governance and democratic dividends which have been applauded at home and abroad. Today, we unveil the new platform for the good people of Osun state. From Osun West to Osun East to Osun Central, this is our party, our new platform for victory come August next year.
“From Igbomina to Ijeshaland, Ifeland, Osogbo, Iwoland, Modakeke, Gbongan, Igbajo, Ikire, Ikirun, Ede and other lands in Osun State, we must thumb up according to our collective desires for good governance.
“Osun voted for good governance in 2022 and they will support continuity in 2026. The mass of our people are for continuity and Accord is our party for victory next year. “In accordance with the will of our stakeholders and to accord deep respect for the wishes of Osun people, I hereby accordingly declare for the Accord Party”, the governor announced. Then on Wednesday, the party formally declared Governor Ademola Adeleke as its sole governorship candidate for the August 8, 2026 election. Governor Adeleke emerged as the party’s governorship candidate following his victory at the primary election held on Wednesday at the OASIS Event Centre in Osogbo.
A total of 150 delegates, five from each local government area, were accredited for the exercise. According to the Primary election committee, 145 votes were valid while five were invalid, with Adeleke securing 145 votes to clinch the ticket. Speaking earlier, ahead of the primary election, the state chairman of the party, Pastor Victor Akande, said Adeleke, who recently defected to the Party, remains the only aspirant for the party’s ticket.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke is our sole candidate for the 2026 governorship election. We are declaring him today. As you know, he formally defected to our party in November and we publicly announced him on Tuesday”, Akande said.
The development comes a day after Governor Adeleke publicly announced his defection to the Accord Party and declared his intention to seek a second term in office. Speaking on Tuesday at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Osogbo, the governor told party members and supporters that his decision to move to the Accord Party was driven by the need to sustain stability and ensure continuity in the delivery of good governance to the people of Osun State.
Making a critical assessment of the governor’s move, Adebamiwa Olugbenga Michael, a Lagos-based political analyst, expressed fears that the governor may fall prey to a similar incident that happened in Zamfara state and robbed the elected governor of his mandate as the court voided his election and conferred victory on the candidate with the second highest votes cast in the election.
“In Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) serves as the ultimate arbiter of party legitimacy. Only one executive per party is formally recognised and this recognition supports the validity of candidate nominations, ” wrote Olugbenga, adding, “Analysts emphasize that Adeleke’s critical first step should involve formally verifying the Accord Party’s authentic national chairman with INEC, as misalignment could result in his nomination being legally challenged. Historical precedents, such as the 2019 Zamfara APC primaries, illustrate the real-world consequences of unresolved party disputes, improper primaries led to the disqualification of all party candidates, a cautionary tale that Adeleke’s team would be wise to consider.”
However, Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi has said that the governor had done his due diligence before moving to the new party. move to Accord aligns with his governance style and policy priorities.
“Yesterday, the Governor unveiled Accord because, looking at their manifesto, it goes in line with good governance that Adeleke is delivering, and everybody since yesterday has actually welcomed him and given kudos to Governor Ademola Adeleke for going to Accord,” Alimi said. The coming months would decide who among INEC, the factional leaders of Accord and the governor, whether the governor has made the right move or not.
A faction of the Accord Party loyal to Imumolen, on Sunday produced Clement Bamigbola as its governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun State election, just four days after the emergence of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the party’s candidate. The faction of the party rejected Adeleke’s emergence, insisting that Barrister Maxwell Ngbudem is not the legally recognised national chairman of the Accord Party.
Meanwhile, South West stakeholders of the party on Sunday December 14, 2025, endorsed the governor as national leader of the party. In a meeting well attended by the party state chairmen across all the south west states, Engr. Raji Waheed (Oyo State Chairman); Dr. Oyedamola Babarinde (Ekiti); Hon. Azeez Abimbola Falaja(Ogun); Chief(Mrs.) Balogun Titilayo(Ondo); Mr. Dolapo Tolulope (Osun) disowned one Segun Fanibe, who they claimed was a member of the party between 2016 and 2018.
The Southwest National Vice Chairman, Mogaji Igbinsola at the occasion, said the two warring factions under the national leadership of Rev’d John Adeniyi and Nduibem Maxwell have endorsed the candidacy of Gov. Ademola Adeleke for the 2026 governorship election in Osun State. Igbinsola said, “The two warring factions under the national leadership of Rev’d John Adeniyi and Nduibem Maxwell have endorsed the candidacy of Gov. Ademola Adeleke for the 2026 governorship election in Osun State.
“As a result of Adeleke defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to Accord, and in line with our party’s constitution, Ademola Adeleke has automatically become our national leader. INEC’s Public Relations Officer in the state, Musa Olurode, On Sunday told a national newspaper that the commission was unaware of the parallel exercise.
“We have monitored the only Accord Party primary a few days ago. The report has been submitted. INEC is not aware of any other party’s primary,” Olurode said.
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