OSOGBO, Osun State — The leadership crisis within the Accord Party took a fresh turn on Thursday as the party rejected a declaration by its former presidential candidate, Professor Christopher Imumolen, withdrawing support for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and endorsing the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of Saturday’s election.

Imumolen, who describes himself as a national chairman of a faction of Accord, appeared at the APC governorship mega rally in Osogbo on Thursday, August 13, where he publicly announced support for Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO.

Speaking at the rally, Imumolen said his group had withdrawn its backing for Adeleke and directed Accord members in Osun State to vote for Oyebamiji in the August 15, 2026 governorship election. His appearance generated widespread reports suggesting that Accord had abandoned Adeleke only days before the poll.

However, the national leadership of Accord headed by Barrister Maxwell Mgbudem swiftly rejected the declaration, maintaining that Imumolen had no authority to speak for the party.

In a statement issued later on Thursday, Mgbudem described Imumolen as an expelled member and said his appearance at the APC rally demonstrated that he no longer represented Accord in any capacity. The party also rejected suggestions that Imumolen was its legitimate national chairman.

Mgbudem reaffirmed Accord’s support for Governor Adeleke, insisting that the incumbent remained the party’s candidate in Saturday’s governorship election.

The party expressed confidence that Adeleke would win re-election, describing Osun as one of its political strongholds and urging its members and supporters to turn out for the governor at the polls.

The clarification is significant because Mgbudem is currently listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission as Accord’s National Chairman, according to the political-party directory cited in reports on the controversy. Adeleke is also contesting the election on the Accord platform.