The Accord Party (AP) has officially denounced a recent protest at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters, dismissing it as a “staged event” with no basis in reality.
The party leadership clarified that the demonstration, allegedly organized by expelled 2023 presidential candidate Prof. Christopher Imumolen, was a “poorly scripted show” that does not represent the party’s actual membership.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, National Chairman Maxwell Mgbuden reaffirmed that the party remains unified and free of any leadership crisis.
“There was no faction or leadership crisis within the party,” Persecondnews reporter at the briefing quotes Mgbuden as saying.
Urging party members and the public to disregard attempts to portray the organization as divided, the chairman explained that Imumolen, whom the party considers an expelled member, had based his claims on an “imaginary court order.”
He clarified that the ex parte order obtained in August 2024 was later vacated by the FCT High Court in September 2024.
Subsequent proceedings ended with Justice F.A. Aliyu’s ruling on 17 July 2025, which struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction, classifying it as a non-justiciable intra-party matter.
Mgbuden emphasized that recent court rulings have permanently settled the leadership dispute, nullifying Prof. Christopher Imumolen’s claims and solidifying the party’s rank-and-file behind his administration.
When pressed on rumours of a potential alliance with President Bola Tinubu, Mgbuden remained coy, stating:“If there is such an alliance, you would be the first to know.”
He further confirmed that the party is moving forward with its internal calendar, having already released nomination forms for upcoming primaries.
Turning his sights to the electoral map, Mgbuden expressed unwavering confidence in the party’s prospects for the 2027 general elections and the off-cycle polls in Ekiti and Osun.
Regarding the latter, where the party currently holds sway, he was emphatic: “Adeleke will win Osun with a big margin, that I can assure you.”
The party urged the public and prospective aspirants not to be distracted by “misleading” attempts to project internal discord.
It pledged to remain committed to delivering democratic dividends in Osun State while working to broaden its support base across the country.
Persecondnews recalls that the protest on Tuesday had seen Imumolen and supporters present petitions and placards at INEC, demanding recognition as national chairman based on purported court orders.
Imumolen had accused the commission of bias, noting that INEC had complied with similar rulings in other parties like the African Democratic Congress (ADC) but failed to do so for Accord.
He emphasized that “a court order is not advisory; it is meant to be obeyed” and urged the electoral body to remain neutral and uphold the rule of law.
Accord Party leadership maintains that INEC and the courts continue to recognize Mgbuden as the legitimate chairman, and the party remains fully prepared for the next election cycle.
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