Chaos in Accord Party as Factions Name Different 2027 Presidential Candidates

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

The political landscape in Nigeria has taken a dramatic turn ahead of the 2027 general elections, with a major leadership crisis splitting the Accord party into factions. In a move that highlights deep-seated internal divisions, a faction of the political organization has announced Christopher Imumolen as its presidential candidate. This announcement comes amid intense political jockeying across the country, as various parties rush to formalize their positions and present candidates to the electorate. The unfolding situation within Accord reflects a broader trend of fragmentation within Nigeria's opposition spaces, where internal leadership disputes frequently threaten to undermine unified challenges to the ruling political establishment.
According to an official statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, June 4, 2026, by Muktar Abdullah, the national secretary of the Imumolen-led faction, the candidate was chosen through a consensus vote. The faction reported that this decision was reached during a national presidential primary election held in Lagos on Saturday, May 30, 2026. The statement emphasized that the convention drew delegates from all thirty-six states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. Factional leaders described the emergence of Imumolen as a testament to broad national support, particularly among the younger demographic, who view him as a modern alternative to traditional political figures. Imumolen, who was the youngest presidential candidate in the 2023 election cycle, spoke after the vote, expressing gratitude to the delegates and promising to submit the candidate list to the Independent National Electoral Commission in September.
However, this declaration has immediately plunged the party into a deeper logistical and legal quagmire, as another powerful bloc within the party insists on a completely different outcome. The Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement quickly challenged the legitimacy of the Lagos primary, asserting that Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim remains the true and duly elected presidential candidate of the Accord party. According to this competing group, Olawepo-Hashim joined the party in March 2026 and built massive nationwide support, culminating in his selection at a separate process. The solidarity movement alleged that external political forces were actively working to destabilize the party structure and sabotage its nomination process to limit credible competition against the current administration. They urged their supporters to remain calm, arguing that such internal friction is common among major political parties in Nigeria today.
Adding a third layer of complexity to the unfolding drama, the central leadership of the party has dismissed both claims entirely, stating that the party is not fielding any presidential candidate for the 2027 elections. Speaking from Abuja, the National Chairman recognized by mainstream party structures, Maxwell Mgbuden, released a stern rebuttal. Mgbuden stated categorically that Accord did not conduct any valid presidential primary and that any event announcing a flag bearer was merely an independent gathering of supporters with no constitutional effect. The national chairman explained that while many aspirants purchased forms for governorship and legislative seats, no individual bought the expression of interest and nomination forms for the presidency within the approved timeframe. Consequently, Mgbuden noted that the party had formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission that its scheduled presidential primary was cancelled.
The roots of this factional warfare stretch back several months, characterized by fierce legal battles and public demonstrations over who controls the soul of the political organization. In April 2026, protesters loyal to Imumolen marched to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja, accusing the electoral umpire of failing to comply with valid court orders regarding the internal leadership of the party. In response, Mgbuden held a media briefing to disown the protests, claiming that there was no legitimate crisis and that Imumolen did not represent the official stance of the party. Imumolen countered these assertions by publicly affirming his role as a national chairman and subsequently establishing a dispute resolution committee in early June 2026 to address the widening cracks within the rank and file.
This internal chaos is not unique to Accord, as the broader Nigerian opposition landscape faces similar institutional instability as the 2027 election cycle begins to solidify. Across the political spectrum, various parties are experiencing severe friction regarding nominations and consensus candidates. For instance, the Action Democratic Party recently announced Aliyu Bin Abbas as its consensus presidential candidate, while the Peoples Redemption Party cleared former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke as its standard-bearer. At the same time, major organizations like the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party are grappling with their own structural disputes and factional rivalries. Analysts observe that these repetitive internal conflicts often stem from weak institutional frameworks and the intense pressure of elite political alignments outside official party structures.
The economic and social context surrounding these early nominations adds further weight to the political maneuvers. In his acceptance speech in Lagos, Imumolen focused heavily on national issues, promising that an Accord-led federal government would directly confront the severe scourge of unemployment, tackle pervasive insecurity, and structurally revamp the economic architecture of the country to lift millions out of poverty. Factional leaders have also promised to unveil a comprehensive socio-economic roadmap in the coming weeks designed to rescue citizens from ongoing hardships. Yet, the ability of any faction to present a viable platform remains heavily dependent on whether they can secure formal recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission, which holds the ultimate authority to publish the final list of valid candidates.
As the September deadline for the submission of candidate lists approaches, the legal battle over the control of Accord is expected to intensify in the courts. Experience shows that when multiple factions submit different names or when the central leadership denies the existence of a primary, the final decision inevitably falls on judicial interpretation and electoral guidelines. For the ordinary members of the party and the electorate looking for clear alternatives, the current spectacle offers more confusion than clarity. The coming weeks will reveal whether the dispute resolution mechanisms put in place by the various actors can forge a compromise, or if the party will head into the general election completely fractured, leaving its candidates disqualified or sidelined from the presidential race entirely.
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