By Philomina Attah
The factional National Chairman of Accord, Prof. Chris Imumolen, says the leadership crisis and legal cases rocking the party predated Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun’s entry into the party and cannot be automatically resolved by the outcome of the Osun governorship election.
Imumolen, who was the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections stated this at a media chat on Friday in Abuja.
He said that political outcomes, including Adeleke’s victory would not extinguish existing court cases surrounding the party’s executive leadership.
Imumolen explained that the internal crisis emerged following the party’s national convention held on July 29, 2024, at Nicon Luxury, Abuja.
According to him, while over 500 delegates convened at the venue for the exercise, a faction led by Maxwell Mgbudem allegedly broke away to write separate results in a room with selected officials.
“There was no faction when the convention was organised. It was the result of the convention that brought the faction.
“The Mgbudem faction ran away from the centre where we were having the convention to a room and declared themselves winners. That was what led us to court,” Imumolen stated.
He recalled that on Aug. 29, 2024, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, presided over by Justice M. M. Adamu, had issued an interim order in the suit involving himself against Maxwell Mgbudem and others.
Imumolen explained that an FCT High Court issued an order on directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him as the authentic national chairman pending the determination of the substantive suit.
He added that after the opposing side filed an appeal, the Court of Appeal ruled in his faction’s favour on July 5, sending the matter back to the Federal High Court where proceedings will continue after the judicial vacation in September.
Reacting to comments surrounding Adeleke’s alignment with the Mgbudem faction, Imumolen clarified that his faction is not acting as a spoiler against the Osun governor.
“Many persons who have a soft spot for Gov. Adeleke are beginning to see our faction as a spoiler, which is not so.
“There is a case that predates his coming to Accord,” he said.
He recalled that he was contacted by the former Gov. Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun when Adeleke was preparing to join the party, but no meaningful communication was established to settle the crisis after the governor’s entry.
“When Governor Adeleke came, we tried to reach out, but they saw our faction as nothing. It takes two to resolve a dispute. If the other faction is not ready to resolve it, the court case will continue.”
On political alliances and support for the presidential election, Imumolen noted that both factions in Accord independently decided to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidency based on his national mandate.
He, however, said that such national alignment does not extend to state-level contests, noting that Accord maintains its own candidates for governorship and legislative seats in various states, while adopting strategic alignments elsewhere such as supporting Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party in Abia State.
Imumolen also stated that leadership crisis would be followed to logical conclusion.
“We just want members of the public to know that our case in Accord continues; it has not been resolved.
“I am the National Chairman of the party, and I will make sure the court decides the lawful leadership.
He however cautioned politicians and interested parties against conflicting the party’s internal leadership with the outcome of Osun governorship election.
“We should allow the courts to do their work. Nobody should attempt to settle the national leadership question through the outcome of the Osun election, political pressure, media propaganda or unilateral declarations.
“Our commitment to Accord remains intact. Our commitment to the rule of law remains absolute.
“We shall continue to pursue the judicial process until the legitimate leadership question is finally settled,” he said.
Imumolen maintained that the proper place to determine who is legally entitled to lead Accord is the court, not the street, not political propaganda and not an election campaign.
“Let me therefore make this absolutely clear, that Osun election is an election. The Accord leadership dispute is a national party and legal matter. They are two different issues.
“The Osun election has come and gone. The national leadership question within Accord remains a matter to be determined through the appropriate legal process.