Accord denies 2027 Tinubu pact, reaffirms Adeleke’s suppor

The national leadership of the Accord on Thursday dismissed claims that it had endorsed President Bola Tinubu.

The party insisted that its focus remains on consolidating support for Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election in the state.

The party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, made the clarification during a press conference in Abuja, amid rising political activities ahead of the Ekiti and Osun governorship polls and the 2027 general elections.

He said, “There is nothing like that (Tinubu’s endorsement). This is a political party, and Governor Adeleke is our candidate. If there is any such endorsement, I assure you that the media will be the first to know. It will come from here.

Every candidate will emerge after the primaries. We have just finished our NEC meeting, but still working on the modalities.

“Many aspirants are presently rushing to buy forms for various positions after we announced our nomination fees and timetable.”

The clarification follows recent controversy over a billboard in Iwo, Osun State, which featured images of Tinubu and Adeleke, triggering a war of words between the All Progressives Congress and the governor’s camp.

While the APC accused Adeleke of exploiting the President’s image for political gain, the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, fired back, alleging that the ruling party was battling an “integrity crisis” and was rattled by Adeleke’s growing popularity.

Weighing in, Mgbudem defended the governor’s political standing and performance.

“On Governor Adeleke, everybody in this country, including journalists, knows he has done wonderfully well in the state. And the people are eager to vote for him again.

“I am sure you are aware that the Osun chapter of the PDP also adopted Senator Ademola Adeleke as its governorship candidate for the August 15, 2026, governorship poll.

“This will be an election for the masses because they are the ones heading to the polls to elect their choice candidate.

Accord is not afraid of any gang-up or opposition against him. We refuse to be distracted.

“Adeleke is fully on ground, just as his achievements and performances speak for him. I can assure you that he is going to win the election with a very wide margin.”

Highlighting the party’s growth, the chairman described Accord as a rising force in Nigeria’s political space.

“Our party has become the beautiful bride of Nigerian democracy and the fastest growing political party in the country since Adeleke joined, along with his political associates and supporters.

“He has also attracted eminent citizens to the party, including a senator, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly members,” he said.

Mgbudem also used the opportunity to debunk reports of a leadership crisis within the party, insisting that there is no faction or dispute.

According to him, the rebuttal became necessary following claims by a former Accord presidential candidate in 2023, Christopher Imumolen, who has reportedly been pushing for recognition as the party’s national leader.

“On Tuesday, the expelled former candidate of Accord, Prof Christopher Imumolen, staged a poorly scripted show with a few street urchins at INEC headquarters, seeking to be recognised as chairman of the party based on an imaginary court order in what will go down in history as the worst showmanship by a political neophyte.

“Accord would not have dignified Imumolen’s action with a response in order not to give him the publicity he craved for sustenance, but was constrained to put the record straight to disabuse the minds of unsuspecting compatriots who might think that there is a leadership disagreement in the party.

For the avoidance of doubt, there is no leadership dispute or faction in Accord, and there is no court order in favour of Imumolen or anybody for INEC to comply with,” he said.

The party maintained that it would not be distracted by what it described as “frivolities” from expelled members, stressing that its energy remains focused on upcoming elections.