National leadership of the Accord Party has distanced itself from its expelled former presidential candidate, Chris Imumolen, over his public endorsement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Senator Bola Oyebamiji, insisting that he neither represents the party nor possesses the political influence to sway the outcome of Saturday’s election.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the party’s National Chairman, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, Accord described Imumolen’s appearance at the APC campaign rally in Osogbo as further evidence that he is no longer a member of the party.
The party maintained that reports portraying him as a factional leader of Accord were misleading, stressing that the party remained united.
According to the statement, “The national leadership of Accord has dismissed its expelled former 2023 presidential candidate, Chris Imumolen’s support for the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiyi for the Osun State governorship election, stating that Imumolen has no electoral value to influence any election in the country.”
Accord further alleged that Imumolen lacked any political structure capable of influencing the electoral contest.
The statement added: “Accord stated that Imumolen is a political hireling and hustler seeking stomach infrastructure and has no political structure that will favour his preferred candidate in the election.”
The party also dismissed claims that Imumolen held any leadership position within Accord.
It stated: “That Imumolen attended the APC rally in Osogbo where he backed its candidate is a glaring testament that he is not a member of Accord and does not represent the party in any capacity. The purported appellation, ‘factional chairman’ of Accord is not only mischievous, it is a delusion of the grandeur that exists in his fertile imagination as the party has no faction.”
Expressing confidence ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, Accord said the people of Osun State remained firmly behind Governor Ademola Adeleke and predicted a decisive victory at the polls.
The statement read: “Osun State is an Accord stronghold, the people are in one accord with Governor Ademola Adeleke and will overwhelmingly vote for the party on Saturday, August 15.”
It continued: “It is obvious that Accord will secure a landslide victory in this election that will further consolidate the party in the state and improve the delivery of democracy dividends to the people.”
The party also accused the APC of resorting to intimidation and the alleged deployment of federal institutions to influence the election.
According to Accord, “It is the fear of its worst electoral defeat that APC resorted to violence, harassment, intimidation and the use of federal institutions, particularly the police and the EFCC, to suppress the Government and people of Osun State including Accord members hoping to compromise the election in favour of the APC.”
It, however, maintained that residents of the state remained committed to supporting the incumbent administration.
“The good people of Osun remain resolute, firm and steadfast in their support for Accord and their governor,” the statement added.
The party called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a transparent and credible election while urging security agencies to remain professional and impartial throughout the electoral process.
Accord also appealed to international observers, including the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, the African Union, ECOWAS, the United States and the United Kingdom, to closely monitor the governorship poll and ensure that anyone found undermining the democratic process is held accountable.
Reaffirming its optimism, the party said it was fully prepared for the election and expressed confidence that Governor Adeleke’s record in office would earn him another mandate from the electorate.
It concluded by expressing hope that the Osun governorship election would set a new benchmark for the conduct of credible elections in Nigeria.