Accord Faction Backs APC’s Oyebamiji Ahead of Osun Governorship Election

A faction of the Accord Party has withdrawn its support for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

Christopher Imumolen, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate who describes himself as a factional national chairman, announced the decision on Thursday at the grand finale of the APC campaign rally in Osogbo, the state capital.

Imumolen said his faction’s National Working Committee had resolved to withdraw its support for Adeleke, who is seeking re-election on the Accord platform, and urged members of the party across the state to vote for Oyebamiji, popularly known as “AMBO.”

“As the national chairman of the Accord Party, with my working committee, who are all here, we have stepped down our support for Ademola Adeleke, and today we declare our support for AMBO,” Imumolen said.

“Come on Saturday, all Accord members in Osun State should go to the polling units and vote for AMBO.”

The development came a day after the Accord Party suspended its planned mega rally scheduled for Wednesday, August 12, citing internal crisis and difficulties in mobilising members across the state.

Imumolen had also recently withdrawn from the 2027 presidential race and declared his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, saying the decision was based on the need to prioritise national unity, stability and continued development.

However, Imumolen’s endorsement has been rejected by the leadership of the Accord Party recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC recognises Maxwell Mgbudem as the party’s national chairman, and he has continued to support Adeleke’s re-election bid.

Mgbudem dismissed Imumolen’s declaration, describing him as a “political hireling and hustler” without the political structure to influence the outcome of the election.

He said Imumolen’s appearance at the APC rally demonstrated that he was no longer a member of Accord and insisted that there was no faction within the party.

“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,” Mgbudem said.

The party also rejected Imumolen’s claim to be a “factional chairman,” describing the title as baseless and insisting that he had no electoral value capable of influencing elections.

The Adeleke campaign council also rejected the endorsement, describing Imumolen as a “fake entity” and “impersonator” whose declaration did not represent the official position of the Accord Party.

The Imole Campaign Council maintained that Mgbudem remained firmly behind Adeleke’s re-election and accused the APC of attempting to create a misleading impression ahead of the poll by using an individual it said did not represent Accord.

At the APC rally, the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma, expressed confidence in the party’s victory and urged Osun residents to join the 31 states governed by the APC.

“Vote AMBO, vote prosperity, vote Osun for the state to be prosperous. We 31 state governors are in the state in solidarity and to welcome the state to the fold of the progressives,” Uzodinma said.

Oyebamiji, a former Osun Commissioner for Finance and former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), pledged to run a people-oriented administration focused on improving residents’ welfare and delivering tangible dividends of democracy.

“Our government that will be elected on August 15, 2026, will be a government of the people, and we will stand on your mandate,” he said.

“No dance anymore, but strict governance.”

Also at the rally, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and APC leader in Osun State, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, urged voters to support Oyebamiji, describing him as tested and trusted with a track record of service.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026. INEC has cleared 15 candidates for the election, with more than 2.3 million registered voters expected to cast their ballots across 3,763 polling units and 332 wards.

The major contest is expected to involve Adeleke, Oyebamiji and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly.

Salaam has also unveiled plans to deploy smart surveillance technology and establish a N1 billion women enterprise fund if elected.

Despite Imumolen’s endorsement of the APC candidate, the Accord Party has maintained its support for Adeleke and expressed confidence in victory. The party has also called on INEC and security agencies to remain neutral and professional during the election

Accord further alleged that the APC had resorted to violence, harassment and intimidation in an attempt to suppress the Osun government and its members, while calling on the international community, including the European Union, African Union, ECOWAS, the United States and the United Kingdom, to closely monitor the election.