Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Accord Party has expelled its former 2023 presidential candidate, Professor Christopher Imumolen, for publicly endorsing the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, just two days before Saturday's high‑stakes governorship election. The decision, announced on Thursday, August 13, 2026, by the party's National Chairman, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, marks the culmination of a long‑simmering leadership crisis within the party and represents a dramatic fall from grace for a man who once stood as the party's standard‑bearer in a national election.
Imumolen, who had been at the centre of a factional dispute within the Accord Party, attended the APC's mega campaign rally in Osogbo on Thursday and publicly withdrew his support for incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, declaring his backing for the APC candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji. His appearance at the rally and his endorsement of the ruling party's candidate were quickly dismissed by the Accord Party leadership, which insisted that Imumolen no longer had any authority to speak on behalf of the party.
In a strongly worded statement, Mgbudem described Imumolen as a "political hireling and hustler seeking stomach infrastructure" and argued that he lacked the political structure required to influence the outcome of the election. The party also rejected the description of Imumolen as a "factional chairman" of Accord, insisting that the party had no faction and that Imumolen's actions were those of an individual acting without the party's mandate. "That Imumolen attended the APC rally in Osogbo, where he backed its candidate, is a glaring testament that he is not a member of Accord and does not represent the party in any capacity," Mgbudem said.
The expulsion is the latest chapter in a protracted internal crisis within the Accord Party, which has been divided for months over the leadership of the party and the direction of its political strategy. Imumolen, who was the party's presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, had previously been expelled from the party for allegedly spreading misinformation and claiming leadership positions he did not hold. Despite his expulsion, Imumolen continued to assert his influence over a faction of the party and had been parading himself as the factional national chairman, a claim the party leadership has repeatedly dismissed.
The Accord Party's decision to expel Imumolen and dismiss his endorsement of the APC candidate underscores the high stakes of the Osun governorship election, which is widely seen as a bellwether for the 2027 general elections. The party has expressed confidence in its candidate, Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re‑election on the Accord platform after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party. In its statement, the party predicted a landslide victory for Adeleke, citing what it described as his achievements and transformational leadership in the state.
"We are in one accord with Governor Ademola Adeleke and will overwhelmingly vote for the party on Saturday, August 15," Mgbudem said. "It is obvious that Accord will secure a landslide victory in this election that will further consolidate the party in the state and improve the delivery of democracy dividends to the people". The party also accused the APC of resorting to violence, harassment and intimidation, as well as the alleged use of federal institutions, particularly the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to suppress the Osun State Government, residents and Accord members.
However, Imumolen's faction has presented a different narrative. Prior to the APC rally, Imumolen had urged Osun voters not to waste their ballots on Governor Adeleke, arguing that the incumbent's political future faced imminent defeat due to public dissatisfaction and internal party disputes. His appearance at the APC rally and his endorsement of Oyebamiji were seen by political observers as an attempt to leverage his remaining influence within the Accord Party to position himself for a potential political realignment ahead of the 2027 elections.
The internal crisis within the Accord Party has been a source of embarrassment for the party's leadership, which has struggled to maintain a united front ahead of the Osun election. In response to Imumolen's actions, the Osun State chapter of the party, led by Pastor Victor Akande, described Imumolen as an "impostor" and reaffirmed that Governor Adeleke remained the party's sole and official candidate for the weekend polls. "Members of the Accord Party in Osun State and the public at large were highly embarrassed by the fraudulent charade involving top opposition leaders," Akande said, accusing the APC of engineering the impersonation because it recognised its own deep unpopularity in the state.
The Accord Party has also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain neutral and conduct a credible election, while urging security agencies to be impartial and professional in carrying out their statutory duties. The party further appealed to the international community, including the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, the African Union, ECOWAS, the United States and the United Kingdom, to closely monitor the election and sanction anyone found culpable of electoral violations.
As the Osun governorship election approaches, the expulsion of Chris Imumolen and the dismissal of his endorsement of the APC candidate have further deepened the political divisions within the Accord Party. While the party leadership has sought to portray a united front behind Governor Adeleke, the presence of a factional figure like Imumolen, who continues to assert his influence, raises questions about the party's ability to maintain cohesion and present a credible alternative to the APC. For Imumolen, the expulsion represents the end of his formal association with the Accord Party, but his actions have ensured that his name remains at the centre of the political debate in Osun State, even as his political future hangs in the balance.
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