Imumolen declares Governor Ademola Adeleke’s Accord Party nomination illegal, confirming Clement Kolawole as the lawful Osun governorship candidate

Factional National Chairman of the Accord Party and former presidential candidate, Professor Christopher Imumolen, has declared the nomination of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the party’s Osun State governorship candidate illegal.

Also read: Osun PDP backs Adeleke’s second-term bid despite defection

The statement was made in Lagos on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Brief.

Imumolen insisted that Clement Kolawole remains the Accord Party’s legitimate flagbearer in Osun State, citing a valid primary election conducted under his leadership. He described any process linking Adeleke to the party as “unrecognised and illegal.”

“He had emerged through a process that we know is not a recognised or legal process. The faction that claims to have brought him into the party is not the faction in charge of the party as it is today,” Imumolen said.

He added that attempts to brief Adeleke on internal party challenges were unsuccessful before the Maxwell faction went ahead with their primaries.

“To save the party and to make sure that Accord fields a candidate that does not have a challenge after winning a candidate that can maintain his position and his seat without any legal challenges, we had to stand up to the occasion by conducting a primary and producing Clement Kolawole for the Osun people and for the party,” he said.

The Accord Party chairman also recounted the party’s leadership crisis, noting that he won the national chairmanship election in July of the previous year with over 500 delegates. Despite the victory, the opposing Maxwell faction continued to claim authority within the party.

Imumolen explained that he approached the court to ensure clarity and public confidence in the party. The court subsequently directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him as the lawful National Chairman.

“With the court’s position and the conduct of a valid primary election, Clement Kolawole remains the Accord Party’s lawful governorship candidate in Osun State,” Imumolen affirmed.

Also read: Adeleke wins positive Accord Party clearance for 2026 primary

The development underscores ongoing factional disputes within the Accord Party ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial elections, highlighting internal party dynamics and legal interventions shaping candidate legitimacy.