The internal strife within the Accord Party has escalated as the party’s National Coordinator, Rev. Isaac Adeniyi, vehemently disowned former presidential candidate Chris Imumolen and threw the party’s full weight behind Governor Ademola Adeleke’s gubernatorial candidacy. This public rift comes as a faction loyal to Imumolen launched a legal challenge against the party’s leadership.
On December 3, a faction of the Accord Party initiated a legal action marked FCT/CV/4955/2025 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The suit, filed by Oliver Bitrus against the Accord Party, National Chairman Maxwell Mgbudem, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seeks to nullify the party’s then forthcoming Osun State governorship primaries and affirm the suspension of Mgbudem.
Bitrus, represented by counsel Daniel Edeachi, contends that Mgbudem and his deputy, Chief Okey Nwosu, were duly suspended by a splinter group over alleged anti-party activities. This faction subsequently appointed Prof. Chris Imumolen as a replacement, relying on a Federal High Court judgment they claim recognizes him as the lawful national leader.
Acting on his claimed authority, Imumolen had criticized the defection of the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, describing the move as a “back door entry,” and declaring it invalid. The Imumolen faction went on to conduct a parallel primary election. However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) only accepted the result of the primary that nominated Adeleke.
In a statement released in Benin on Monday, Rev. Isaac Adeniyi backed Governor Adeleke’s candidacy and distanced the mainstream Accord Party from Imumolen’s comments and actions.
The statement reads in part: “The Accord Party, attention has been drawn to a statement credited to one Chris Imumolen criticizing Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, for defecting to our great party.”