The defection of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and his cousin, Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, to the Accord Party has triggered fresh internal turmoil within the party, reopening a long-running national leadership crisis.
Governor Adeleke formally joined the Accord Party on December 10 and subsequently emerged as its governorship candidate, while Davido announced his defection earlier this week. Their entry, however, has exposed deep divisions within the party, with multiple factions laying claim to the national leadership and offering conflicting interpretations of the legitimacy of Adeleke’s membership and candidature.
At least three groups are currently asserting authority within the party, further complicating the situation. The controversy intensified after the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Chris Imumolen, declared himself the National Chairman, alleging that Adeleke’s defection violated the party’s constitutional procedures.
Imumolen insisted that the governor joined the party without due process and claimed that Accord already had a governorship candidate in Osun State. He alleged that rival factions were operating with the support of compromised officials within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Why is it now that they are claiming the position of National Chairman? They were caretaker committee members. They are being influenced by individuals within INEC,” Imumolen said in an interview with Hobnob News.
He further claimed that a court order recognised him as the party’s National Chairman, alleging that vested interests were preventing its enforcement. Despite his opposition to Adeleke’s defection, Imumolen welcomed Davido’s entry, describing it as a publicity boost for the party.
In contrast, a former member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Rev. Isaac Adeniyi, who identified himself as the National Coordinator, distanced the party from Imumolen’s remarks, describing them as misleading and unrepresentative of the party’s position.
Meanwhile, a check on INEC’s official website lists Maxwell Mgbudem as the National Chairman of the Accord Party.
Reacting to the controversy, Mgbudem stated that both Imumolen and Adeniyi had been suspended and no longer had the authority to speak for the party. He described the defection of Governor Adeleke and Davido as a positive development, saying it demonstrated the party’s stability and growing influence.
“Their decision to join Accord shows that the party is focused and united. Accord is well-positioned to win the upcoming election in Osun State,” Mgbudem said.
He maintained that the party’s primary election was properly conducted in the presence of INEC officials and disclosed that Adeleke was granted a waiver by the National Executive Committee to contest on the party’s platform. Mgbudem also dismissed claims of court recognition made by Imumolen, alleging that the purported order was fraudulently obtained.
Mgbudem further rejected Adeniyi’s claim to any leadership role, stating that the Accord Party has no position known as National Coordinator and that no Board of Trustees has been formally constituted.
Efforts to reach Adeniyi for clarification were unsuccessful. However, a source close to him told Hobnob News that he opted to remain silent due to a pending case before the Court of Appeal. The source added that Adeniyi’s involvement in the party’s leadership predates both Imumolen’s emergence and Governor Adeleke’s defection.
The source also alleged that Imumolen’s opposition to Adeleke’s entry was driven by fears of losing relevance, noting that the governor’s political influence could significantly reshape internal negotiations and power dynamics within the party.
As legal battles and leadership claims persist, the crisis threatens to overshadow the Accord Party’s preparations ahead of the forthcoming elections.
