*OSUN 2026: WHY GOVERNOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE SHOULD NOT PURSUE RE-ELECTION UNDER ACCORD PARTY
By Iwintunde Alapandede
The Accord Party is currently enmeshed in one of the most destabilizing internal crises in its history, raising serious concerns for any political actor considering the platform for major electoral ambitions.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, who has been rumoured to be weighing Accord as a possible vehicle for the 2026 governorship election, must take heed of the storm brewing within the party at both national and state levels.
The trouble began in November 2025 when a powerful faction comprising Accord state chairmen from all 36 states announced the suspension of the then National Chairman, Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, and his Deputy National Chairman, Chief Okey Nwosu, over allegations of anti-party activities. The faction, operating under what it described as a “stakeholders’ mandate,” swiftly replaced them with Professor Chris Imumolen, citing a Federal High Court judgment which they claim recognises Imumolen as the lawful national leader of the party.
The accusations against Mgbudem and his deputy were grave. According to the faction, the suspended leaders allegedly colluded with external political actors to sabotage Accord’s internal stability, including offering veiled support to a rival party’s candidate during a recent governorship election. These claims, though denied by the Mgbudem camp, have fuelled a deepening rift within the party.
As a result, Accord now operates under two parallel national structures — one loyal to Prof. Chris Imumolen and the stakeholder-led “reformist” faction, and another loyal to Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, who insists that no legitimate NEC meeting ever suspended him. This dual leadership tussle has plunged the party into confusion, with each faction issuing contradictory directives, statements, and political endorsements.
Such instability sends a troubling message to the public, opposition parties, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC): Accord currently lacks a unified, uncontested national authority. For any sitting governor or high-stake aspirant, this is a dangerous environment in which to anchor a re-election project.
Indeed, the very stakeholders who suspended Mgbudem publicly warned Governor Adeleke “to be wary of engaging with the suspended National Chairman to avoid falling into a judicial quagmire that could derail his political ambitions.” This caution should not be taken lightly. Should Adeleke align with a faction that a court later invalidates, his candidacy could be thrown into legal turmoil, including possible disqualification or prolonged litigation.
Unfortunately, the crisis is not limited to the federal level. In Osun State, Accord is battling its own leadership vacuum. Former members of the Osun Executive Committee insist that the tenure of the state exco expired in March 2025, and accuse the current chairman, Victor Akande, of illegally overstaying in office without a valid congress or properly constituted caretaker committee. These former executives — led by figures such as Comrade Adesina Akingbade — have formally petitioned stakeholders, including INEC, urging them to disregard Akande’s leadership claims.
Akande, for his part, maintains that he remains the legitimate chairman, insisting he was mandated by the national secretariat to set up a caretaker leadership. But with the national leadership itself divided, his claim depends heavily on which faction one recognises — thereby deepening the confusion.
What emerges is a picture of total organisational disarray. The national leadership is split between Mgbudem and Imumolen; the state chapter is divided between Akande and former executive members; and both levels are rife with accusations, counter-accusations, and claims of expired mandates. No prudent political strategist would recommend that a sitting governor tie his fortunes to such an unstable platform.
Given these realities — the risks of litigation, conflicting directives, delegitimisation, and voter confusion — it would be unwise for Governor Ademola Adeleke to seek re-election under Accord in 2026. A turbulent and divided party cannot offer the structure, predictability, or credibility required for a competitive governorship bid. Instead, the governor would be far better served by a platform with unity, clarity, and institutional stability at its core.
