The Accord Party has dismissed reports suggesting it has entered into any political agreement with Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections, reaffirming its commitment to Ademola Adeleke.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, described the claims as false and misleading, stressing that the party remains focused on the upcoming governorship election in Osun State.
“There is no such arrangement with President Tinubu. Governor Adeleke is our candidate, and if any endorsement were to happen, it would be officially communicated by the party,” Mgbudem said.
He noted that the party had recently concluded its National Executive Committee meeting and was working on finalising processes for its primaries.
“We are currently putting modalities in place following our NEC meeting. Aspirants have already begun purchasing nomination forms after we released our timetable and guidelines,” he added.
The clarification comes amid political tension sparked by a billboard in Iwo, Osun State, which displayed images of both Tinubu and Adeleke, leading to exchanges between the All Progressives Congress and the governor’s camp.
While the APC accused Adeleke of leveraging the President’s image for political advantage, the governor’s spokesperson countered the claim, accusing the ruling party of internal instability and anxiety over Adeleke’s rising popularity.
Defending the governor’s performance, Mgbudem expressed confidence in Adeleke’s chances at the polls.
“Governor Adeleke has delivered on his mandate, and Nigerians, including the people of Osun, can see the results. The electorate is ready to return him to office,” he said.
He also pointed out that the Peoples Democratic Party had already adopted Adeleke as its candidate for the August 15, 2026, governorship election.
“This election will be decided by the people. We are not worried about any opposition or alliances. Adeleke’s record speaks for itself, and we are confident of a decisive victory,” Mgbudem stated.
The party further highlighted what it described as its growing influence in Nigeria’s political landscape, attributing its expansion to Adeleke’s entry and the support of his political allies.
Addressing reports of internal divisions, Mgbudem denied any leadership crisis within the party, dismissing claims by former presidential candidate Christopher Imumolen.
“There is no faction or leadership dispute in Accord. Claims of a court order recognising any individual as chairman are baseless and should be disregarded,” he said.
He accused Imumolen of attempting to create confusion for personal gain.
“What was staged recently was nothing more than a publicity stunt. There is no valid court directive supporting those claims, and the party remains united,” Mgbudem added.
The Accord leadership maintained that it would not be distracted by internal or external controversies, reiterating its focus on upcoming elections and its support for Adeleke’s re-election bid.
