Professor Christopher Imumolen, the factional presidential candidate and National Chairman of the Accord Party, has thrown his full weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, citing the president’s reform agenda, leadership, and a groundswell of support across Nigeria. Speaking at a news conference in Lagos on Friday, Imumolen formally stepped aside from the race and endorsed Tinubu for a second term, a move he said followed deep consultations with the party’s leadership and rank-and-file members.
“National interest must always trump personal ambition and partisan interests,” Imumolen declared, making clear that his decision was not taken lightly. He argued that Tinubu’s victory is all but certain, as Nigerians are beginning to see the long-term payoff of the administration’s reforms, even amid the sting of inflation and security worries. “Tinubu will win because of his people-oriented programmes and the massive support he has received from different parts of the country,” he said. “There is focus. Let us forget about the challenges of inflation and security. There must be progress. If another person comes in 2027, he will have to start all over again. There must be continuity. He has identified the challenges and we need to move from where we are to the next phase. That is why we are supporting him, and he will win. My support is total.”
Imumolen drew a direct line between Tinubu’s reform blueprint and his own manifesto, particularly in economic transformation, education, youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, industrialisation, and national development. The Accord Party, he explained, endorsed the president for ten distinct reasons, hammered out after a thorough review of the administration’s performance and Nigeria’s future needs. The first three, he said, are Tinubu’s courage in pushing through tough economic reforms, his demonstrated leadership capacity, and his commitment to progressive governance through continuity of development projects. The next three hinge on deliberate youth empowerment, bridging the generational leadership gap, and placing competent individuals in strategic public offices. The seventh, eighth, and ninth reasons centre on putting national interest above personal ambition, ensuring policy continuity and political stability, and showing transparency by making the endorsement early. The tenth, he added, is the party’s belief that working together in the national interest will only strengthen democracy and speed up development.
Imumolen was blunt in his assessment of the opposition, insisting that no rival candidate—including those from the African Democratic Congress and the National Democratic Congress—carries a stronger shot than Tinubu. He also praised the administration for tapping young Nigerians for key roles, saying the president has shown real faith in the country’s next generation. “Those appointments have opened doors for young people to contribute meaningfully to governance and national development,” he noted.
He pushed back against any suggestion that the endorsement stems from weak political structures, stressing that the decision rests entirely on performance and what is best for the country. His own political journey, he said, has always been about service to Nigeria, not chasing titles. Continuity in governance, he argued, is vital for drawing investment, creating jobs, strengthening institutions, and keeping reforms on track. By announcing the endorsement now, the Accord Party aims to be open and give its members and supporters clear direction ahead of the polls.
