Accord faction warns Adeleke over leadership dispute
A faction of the Accord Party led by Prof. Chris Imumolen has warned Governor Ademola Adeleke that his endorsement of President Tinubu carries legal and political risks arising from the party’s leader
The Prof. Chris Imumolen-led faction of Accord says Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun faces legal and political risks arising from the party’s leadership crisis. Imumolen made the position known in a statement titled ‘Two Reasons Gov. Adeleke is Endorsing President Bola Tinubu,’ issued on Sunday in Abuja. He said Adeleke’s alignment with President Tinubu was a strategic calculation aimed at avoiding political confrontation amid the ongoing political tussle in Osun.
Imumolen identified the leadership crisis within Accord as another major reason for Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections. He said the issue confronting Adeleke extended beyond securing votes, citing the unresolved legal dispute between his faction and the Maxwell Mgbudem-led faction. While the Mgbudem-led group backed Adeleke, Imumolen’s faction insists it remains the only legitimate and recognised executive structure of Accord.
Imumolen said a court victory for his faction could have far-reaching implications for the political foundation upon which Adeleke contested. He cautioned that political assessments must be distinguished from established legal facts, stressing that a court victory would not automatically remove Adeleke from office. “What is clear is that the political battle has had two fronts: the ballot box and the courtroom,” Imumolen said.
The warning is a reminder that Adeleke’s political position is not as secure as it appears. While he won the governorship election, the legal battle over the party’s leadership could undermine his standing. The endorsement of Tinubu may have been a strategic calculation, but it has also alienated some of his supporters. The Imumolen faction’s support for Tinubu suggests that the President may be seeking to exploit the division within Accord.
This echoes the 2022 leadership disputes in opposition parties, which also created legal risks for candidates. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a political battle that extended beyond the ballot box.
The winners: the Imumolen faction, which has asserted its position; and President Tinubu, who may benefit from the division. The losers: Governor Adeleke, who faces legal and political risks; and the Accord Party, which is divided.
Bottom Line: Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu carries risks from the Accord leadership crisis. The legal battle is not over. The question is whether the court will resolve the dispute or prolong it.