Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The factional National Chairman of the Accord Party, Professor Chris Imumolen, has declared that Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke will lose Saturday's governorship election, either through a decisive defeat at the ballot box or through a legal battle that could strip him of victory even if he manages to secure re-election. Imumolen, in a statement issued by Accord chieftain Israel Jagunmolu on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, advised the people of Osun State not to waste their votes on Adeleke, insisting that the governor's political future faces imminent collapse.
Imumolen said his confidence extended far beyond the electoral contest, arguing that Adeleke remains vulnerable to legal consequences even if he emerges victorious at the polls. The factional chairman pointed to an ongoing leadership dispute within the Accord Party, which he said is currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja. According to Imumolen, the case, which has moved through the Court of Appeal and is now back at the Federal High Court, could determine the legitimate leadership structure of the party and potentially undermine Adeleke's candidacy. "We are expecting victory in the judgment very soon," Imumolen stated.
The factional chairman maintained that the dispute is not merely an internal party disagreement but concerns the legitimate leadership and structure of the Accord and the authority of its recognised structure. "Adeleke will lose at the polls. And if, against all expectations, he wins, the Accord leadership case will ultimately defeat him in court," Imumolen reiterated. He argued that "a victory by Adeleke at the polls will not necessarily bring an end to the political and legal challenges surrounding his candidacy". "If Adeleke loses at the polls, the people of Osun will have rejected him. A victory at the polls could still be challenged through the ongoing legal process".
Imumolen also urged Governor Adeleke to stop blaming President Bola Tinubu for his political challenges and instead take responsibility for what he described as the shortcomings of his administration. "Governor Adeleke must leave President Bola Tinubu out of his self-inflicted woes. He has failed the people of Osun State despite the huge monthly allocations flowing into the state's coffers," Imumolen said. He alleged that residents across the state were dissatisfied with the governor's performance and would express their verdict at the polls.
The factional chairman further claimed that opinion polls at his disposal had clearly shown that Adeleke cannot scale through the election of August 15. He dismissed the governor's recent expressions of concern over potential electoral malpractice as a pre-emptive defence aimed at explaining an anticipated defeat. "Now that the people have concluded to vote him out, he is suddenly shouting rigging. Let it be known that nobody is planning to rig you out," Imumolen said. "The voters of Osun State are simply ready to hold you accountable for your woeful performance, and they will use their constitutional power to elect leadership that genuinely serves them".
The prediction comes amid a deepening leadership crisis within the Accord Party. Governor Adeleke enjoys the support of the Maxwell Mgbudem-led faction of the party, while Imumolen leads a rival faction that has consistently challenged the legitimacy of Adeleke's candidacy. In July 2026, Imumolen's faction reaffirmed its support for President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid and endorsed the All Progressives Congress candidate for the Osun polls. The factional chairman has also previously warned Adeleke against describing criminal suspects as Accord members, insisting that the party would not allow its name to be linked to criminality.
The ongoing legal battle over the Accord Party's leadership has added a layer of uncertainty to the electoral contest. Imumolen said proceedings involving the competing factions had moved through the Court of Appeal, with the matter now before the Federal High Court in Abuja. He expressed confidence that the judiciary would vindicate his faction's position and establish the legitimate leadership structure of the Accord. However, Jagunmolu did not provide details of how a judgment in the leadership dispute would directly affect Adeleke's candidacy or electoral victory.
The Osun governorship election, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, is expected to be fiercely contested, with Governor Adeleke of the Accord Party seeking re-election against the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and other contenders. The election has been marked by rising tensions, with allegations of political violence, police harassment, and intimidation of opposition supporters. Imumolen's prediction adds a new dimension to the contest, raising the possibility that even a victory for Adeleke at the polls could be challenged through the courts.
As the people of Osun State prepare to cast their ballots, the factional chairman's words have cast a shadow over the electoral process. Imumolen's confidence in his faction's legal position, combined with his dismissive assessment of Adeleke's performance, suggests that the battle for Osun's governorship will not end on Saturday. Whether Adeleke loses at the polls or faces a legal challenge in the courts, the factional chairman has made it clear: in his view, the governor's days in office are numbered.
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