Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Accord Party on Thursday firmly rejected swirling claims that it has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, describing such reports as completely false and a distraction from the party’s singular mission of securing a second term for Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke. The party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, made the clarification during a press conference in Abuja, insisting that the Accord Party has not and will not endorse any presidential candidate until after it finalises its own primary processes. “There is nothing like that. 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,” Mgbudem stated. The clarification follows days of political ripples triggered by a controversial billboard in Iwo, Osun State, which prominently displayed the images of President Tinubu and Governor Adeleke side‑by‑side with inscriptions suggesting a joint ticket.
The billboard, which surfaced over the weekend, fuelled speculation that Governor Adeleke and his Accord Party had officially thrown their weight behind President Tinubu’s re‑election bid. The development immediately drew sharp criticism from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, which accused the governor of “exploiting and weaponising” the president’s image for political gain. The governing party also insisted that the billboard was not sanctioned by the presidency. However, the governor’s camp quickly distanced itself from the billboard, denying any involvement in its erection and insisting that no official arrangement exists between Governor Adeleke and the presidency ahead of the 2027 polls.
While Governor Adeleke has, in recent months, publicly pledged to support President Tinubu’s re‑election as an individual, the Accord Party has now made it clear that its own institutional focus remains on the Osun governorship contest, not on the presidential race. Speaking at Thursday’s press briefing, Chairman Mgbudem stated firmly that the party has not issued any directive to members or supporters regarding the 2027 presidential election, and that any speculation to the contrary is pure conjecture. He also dismissed reports of a leadership crisis within the party or the existence of rival factions. “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, referring to speculation about a breakaway faction.
The Accord Party’s public rejection of an institutional endorsement of President Tinubu highlights the delicate balancing act facing Governor Adeleke as the August 2026 Osun governorship election approaches. The governor, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Accord Party in late 2024, has consistently described President Tinubu as his “leader” and has vowed to work for the president’s re‑election in 2027. However, the Accord Party itself must maintain its identity as a separate political entity, distinct from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). By publicly disowning any party‑level endorsement of the president, the Accord leadership is signalling that it will not allow the governor’s personal political alliances to overshadow the party’s brand ahead of a crucial gubernatorial election.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time for Governor Adeleke, who is facing a stiff challenge from the APC candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, in the August 15, 2026, governorship election. The governor has been leveraging his relationship with President Tinubu to attract federal support and neutralise APC attacks, but the opposition has seized on the same relationship to accuse the governor of betraying the opposition coalition. In a recent statement, Oyebamiji dismissed suggestions that President Tinubu was backing Adeleke, insisting that the president remains a committed member of the APC and would never support a candidate from another party.
Despite the Accord National Chairman’s rejection of the party‑level endorsement, Governor Adeleke has repeatedly declared his personal support for President Tinubu’s re‑election. In March, while addressing government officials and party leaders at the Government House in Osogbo, the governor reaffirmed his commitment to working for the president’s second term. “He is our leader, and I have no problem declaring my support for him,” Adeleke said at the time. His spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, has also insisted that the governor’s endorsement of Tinubu is personal and does not constitute an official position of the Accord Party. This careful distinction allows the governor to maintain his political alignment while preserving the autonomy of his party.
The Accord Party’s clarification also reflects the complexities of the Nigerian political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election. With the opposition coalition in disarray and multiple parties jostling for relevance, smaller parties like Accord are anxious to avoid being absorbed into the ruling party’s orbit. By publicly rejecting an endorsement of President Tinubu, the Accord Party is asserting its independence and signalling to voters that a vote for Governor Adeleke is not a vote for the ruling APC. This distinction is critical for the party to retain its identity and mobilise its supporters in the August 2026 governorship election.
Political analysts note that the dispute over the billboard and the subsequent clarification by the Accord Party reflects a broader challenge facing Governor Adeleke. As an opposition governor seeking the support of the presidency for federal projects and political protection, he must navigate the competing demands of loyalty to his party and his personal alliance with President Tinubu. The Accord Party’s rejection of an institutional endorsement of the president suggests that party leaders are concerned about the perception that the governor is subordinating the party’s interests to his own political ambitions.
For now, the Accord Party has drawn a clear line: its immediate and overriding priority is the re‑election of Governor Ademola Adeleke in August 2026. The party has announced that it has not yet developed a position on the 2027 presidential election and will focus its resources on winning the Osun governorship contest. Any speculation about a presidential endorsement, Chairman Mgbudem insisted, is premature and unauthorised. As the season of campaigns heats up in Osun State, this clarification serves as a reminder that even in an era of shifting political alliances, party structures can still push back against the personal ambitions of their candidates.
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