Osun poll won’t decide Accord Party leadership, Imumolen insists

Chris Imumolen, the factional National Chairman of the Accord Party, has reiterated that the outcome of the recent Osun State governorship election will not resolve the ongoing leadership crisis within the party. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Imumolen emphasized that the leadership dispute is a legal matter that predates Governor Ademola Adeleke’s entry into the party and cannot be settled by the result of the August 15 election. According to him, the issue remains unresolved in court and will continue regardless of the election's outcome. Adeleke, who was declared the winner of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), received 511,067 votes, defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, by 66,252 votes. However, Imumolen stated that this electoral success does not automatically resolve the competing claims over who holds the rightful title of national chairman. He argued that the leadership dispute has been in litigation since 2024 and will persist until the courts provide a definitive resolution. Imumolen denied allegations that his faction acted as a spoiler in the Osun election due to its opposition to Adeleke. He explained that the internal divisions within the party existed long before Adeleke joined, and he had taken steps to address these tensions. During his 2023 presidential campaign, he reportedly mediated between the two main factions, leading to a temporary reconciliation. However, the situation deteriorated again at the 2024 national convention, where he claimed that members of the Maxwell Mgbudem faction left the main venue and conducted a parallel process to declare their own results. According to Imumolen, the national convention was held at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja on July 29, 2024, and the Maxwell Mgbudem faction allegedly seceded to hold a separate session where they purported to finalize the leadership outcome. This act, he said, triggered the legal battle that continues today. The dispute between the two factions has resulted in multiple court cases, with Imumolen’s faction challenging the legitimacy of the leadership claims made by Mgbudem’s group. In a related legal development, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory issued an interim order on August 29, 2024, in Suit No. FCT/HC/M/11850/2024, directing INEC to recognize Imumolen as the National Chairman of the Accord Party pending the resolution of the broader case. The order also barred the opposing faction from claiming authority over the party’s executive committee or organizing state and local government congresses. Imumolen confirmed that the case has now resumed in court following the holiday period and will proceed until a final verdict is reached. Imumolen has vowed to continue pursuing the legal route to establish his claim to the national chairmanship, stating that the courts must ultimately decide the matter. He has also ruled out any attempt to resolve the dispute through political means, such as public campaigns or pressure tactics. Instead, he has called on members of the party and external stakeholders to maintain composure and allow the judiciary to handle the issue. Separately, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has extended congratulations to Governor Adeleke on his re-election as Osun State governor. In a statement released on Sunday, Otti praised the peaceful nature of the election, acknowledging the role of INEC and security agencies in ensuring a secure and credible process. He commended the electorate for upholding democratic values and encouraged Adeleke to focus on improving governance and fostering development during his second term. Otti also expressed solidarity with Adeleke, emphasizing the shared vision of strengthening institutions and delivering the benefits of democracy to the people.