Accord Rejects 2027 Tinubu Alliance, Reiterates Backing for Adeleke

The national leadership of the Accord Party on Thursday refuted reports suggesting it had endorsed President Bola Tinubu.

The party maintained that its priority is to strengthen support for Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, dismissed the claims, noting that political activities were intensifying in preparation for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, as well as the 2027 general polls.

“There is no such endorsement of Tinubu. This is a political party, and Governor Adeleke remains our candidate. If any endorsement were to happen, it would be formally communicated to the public,” he said.

He added that candidates would emerge through the party’s primary process, explaining that while the National Executive Committee meeting had been concluded, arrangements for the primaries were still ongoing.

“Following the release of our timetable and nomination fees, many aspirants have begun purchasing forms for various positions,” he stated.

The clarification comes amid controversy surrounding a billboard in Iwo, Osun State, which displayed images of both Tinubu and Adeleke, sparking a dispute between the All Progressives Congress and the governor’s camp.

While the APC accused Adeleke of using the President’s image for political advantage, the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, countered by accusing the ruling party of grappling with internal credibility issues and reacting to Adeleke’s rising popularity.

Mgbudem, however, praised the governor’s performance and political standing.
“Governor Adeleke has delivered commendably in Osun State, and the people are eager to re-elect him,” he said.

He also pointed out that the Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party had adopted Adeleke as its candidate for the forthcoming governorship election, describing the poll as one that would be decided by the people.

“This election belongs to the masses, who will ultimately choose their preferred candidate. Accord is not intimidated by any form of opposition or alliance. We remain focused,” he added.

According to him, Adeleke’s achievements position him strongly for victory, expressing confidence that he would win by a significant margin.

Highlighting the party’s progress, Mgbudem described Accord as one of the fastest-growing political parties in Nigeria, noting that its expansion had accelerated following Adeleke’s alignment with the party.

“He has attracted notable figures into the party, including a senator and members of both the House of Representatives and state assemblies,” he said.

The chairman also dismissed reports of internal divisions within the party, insisting that there is no leadership crisis or faction.

He criticised claims by the party’s former 2023 presidential candidate, Christopher Imumolen, who has reportedly sought recognition as the party’s national leader.

“Imumolen’s actions, including his recent appearance at INEC headquarters, were based on unfounded claims and a non-existent court order,” Mgbudem said.

“We would have ignored him to avoid giving unnecessary attention, but it became important to set the record straight and prevent any misunderstanding among the public.”

He stressed that there is no court ruling backing Imumolen’s claims and no directive for INEC to act on.
The party concluded by stating that it would not be distracted by what it described as baseless actions from expelled members, reaffirming its commitment to upcoming elections.