The leadership of the Accord Party has firmly rejected reports suggesting it is grappling with internal factions, instead attributing a significant nationwide membership increase to the recent defection of Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
Party Leadership Rejects Factional Narrative
Addressing journalists on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at the party's national secretariat in Abuja, the National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, stated the party was compelled to clear the air on what he termed misinformation. He emphasized that rather than causing division, Governor Adeleke's move to Accord has solidified the party's internal cohesion.
Mgbudem explained that the governor's entry, along with his political associates and supporters, has elevated the party's profile beyond Osun State. "Since His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, joined Accord... our party has witnessed tremendous national acceptance," Mgbudem declared. He noted that thousands of Nigerians are now identifying with the party across the country, a development he directly linked to Adeleke's political influence.
Adeleke's Defection as a Game-Changer
The chairman was unequivocal about the impact of the defection, stating it has repositioned Accord in the national political landscape. "He has attracted numerous Nigerians to Accord, which has placed the party at the forefront of our democratic process," Mgbudem asserted. He framed this surge as a testament to the party's growing appeal and a key asset as it prepares for the crucial 2026 Osun State governorship election.
Reaffirming the party's unified front, Mgbudem stated, "I state categorically that Accord is the most peaceful, stable, united, progressive, and fastest growing political party in Nigeria today. Accord has no faction at all levels of leadership." He added that the leadership remains focused on consolidating its structure and electoral strategy for the upcoming polls.
Dismissing Claims of an Expelled Member
Mgbudem also addressed recent statements made by the party's former presidential candidate, Christopher Imumolen, whom he confirmed had been expelled from Accord. He accused Imumolen of falsely presenting himself as a party leader and making unauthorized pronouncements, including claims about the party's governorship ticket in Osun.
"It is this amazing growth and popularity of the party nationwide that our expelled former presidential candidate... wants to steal a match by arrogating to himself a party position he never had," Mgbudem said. He described Imumolen's alleged claims to be the national chairman and his announcement of another governorship candidate as unfounded and a product of "fruitful imagination."
Characterizing such actions as a mockery of Nigeria's democracy, Mgbudem insisted they were an insult to Osun State citizens. He pointed to the widely reported governorship primary, monitored by INEC, which produced Governor Ademola Adeleke as Accord's duly nominated candidate.
In conclusion, the Accord chairman warned that the party would not be distracted by individuals he labeled political opportunists. The leadership's primary focus, he reiterated, is on maintaining unity and capitalizing on its newfound momentum to secure victory in the 2026 election.
