The Accord Party has fired back at Chris Imumolen, its erstwhile 2023 presidential flag bearer, after he threw his weight behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the Osun State governorship election. The party’s national leadership made it clear that Imumolen, who was shown the door months ago, carries zero electoral weight and cannot tilt the scales in any race.
In a sharply worded statement, the party labeled the expelled politician a hired hand and a hustler chasing “stomach infrastructure,” insisting he commands no political machinery that could benefit his chosen candidate. “His appearance at the APC rally in Osogbo, where he voiced support for their candidate, is glaring proof that he is not a member of Accord and speaks for no one in our party,” declared Maxwell Mgbudem, the party’s National Chairman.
Mgbudem also took aim at the notion that Imumolen leads a faction of the party, dismissing it as a figment of an overactive imagination. “There is no faction in Accord. That label is not just mischievous; it is a delusion of grandeur,” he said.
The party, which controls the governorship in Osun, remains bullish about its prospects. “Osun is Accord’s stronghold. The people stand united with Governor Ademola Adeleke and will deliver a resounding victory on Saturday, August 15,” Mgbudem asserted. He predicted a landslide that would cement the party’s grip on the state and boost the delivery of democratic dividends.
Accord also accused the APC of resorting to underhanded tactics out of fear of a crushing defeat. “It is the dread of losing badly that has driven the APC to violence, harassment, and the misuse of federal institutions, including the police and the EFCC, to muzzle the government and people of Osun, including our members,” the statement read. “But the good people of Osun remain unshaken in their loyalty to Accord and their governor.”
Turning to the electoral umpire, the party urged INEC to stay neutral and ensure a credible process. It also called on security agencies to act with impartiality and professionalism. Accord appealed to international observers, including the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, the African Union, ECOWAS, the United States, and the United Kingdom, to keep a close watch on the election and hold any offenders accountable.
With confidence riding high, Accord declared it is battle-ready for the poll, banking on Governor Adeleke’s track record and transformative leadership to clinch another term.
