OSUN:
Gov. Adeleke Risk Losing Guber Ticket As Crisis In Accord Party Lingers
By: Moses Jagunmolu
While the matter remains sub judice, the Maxwell faction proceeded to announce the suspension and expulsion of Professor Imumolen and his team**—a move that constitutes a gross abuse of court process.
By law and established precedent, no party can take punitive or disciplinary action on issues already before a competent court**, rendering such claims null, void, and of no legal effect.
Following the National Convention of the Accord Party held in July 2024, which duly produced Professor Chris Imumolen as the National Chairman, a deep internal crisis emerged that has since threatened the stability and unity of the party.
Prior to the convention, a National Caretaker Committee had been constituted led by Mr Maxwell Ndubem for a six-month interim period to manage the affairs of the party after the expiration of the tenure of Hon. Nalando, the former National Chairman. The clear mandate of this caretaker committee was to organize and hand over to a properly elected National Executive Committee at the convention.
However, rather than disengage after the convention, members of the caretaker committee appeared to have harboured intentions to metamorphose into the substantive National Executive, in clear contradiction to both the party’s constitution and democratic norms.
Manipulation of the Convention Process
Before the convention, the caretaker committee unilaterally nominated the Convention Committee, which oversaw the entire electoral process. Using their influence, they restricted fair competition by disqualifying aspirants on unconstitutional grounds.
Contrary to the Accord Party Constitution, which clearly states that *any financial member who has belonged to the party for at least twelve (12) calendar months is eligible to contest, the caretaker committee introduced an illegal requirement—disqualifying any member who had not previously held a party office at national, zonal, or state level.
This unconstitutional interpretation was championed by Mr. Maxwell Ndubem, who publicly claims to be a lawyer and should ordinarily have upheld constitutional provisions. Instead, his self-serving and centre-centric ambition** to emerge as a sole-appointed National Chairman undermined due process.
Additionally, the caretaker committee pursued an agenda to produce an all-Southern National Chairman and National Secretary, which alienated the Northern caucus of the party. This imbalance and injustice triggered strong opposition within the party.
Entry of Professor Chris Imumolen
In response to the unfolding injustice, the Northern caucus and other concerned stakeholders called on Professor Chris Imumolen, then the party’s Presidential Candidate for the 2023 Election, to contest for the position of National Chairman. After due consultation, he accepted the call to serve.
Professor Imumolen lawfully purchased the nomination form for ₦1,000,000, paid directly into the party’s official account. It is also on record that over the years, he had been one of the major financiers of the Accord Party, sustaining its operations nationwide.
Convention Irregularities and Outcome
As the convention approached, the date was suddenly shifted without adequate notice. Furthermore, the **delegate structure was arbitrarily altered, increasing the number of voting delegate: an action widely viewed as an attempt to dilute Professor Imumolen’s growing support after 27 State Chairmen had publicly endorsed him just days before the convention.
Despite these manipulations, Professor Chris Imumolen secured over 500 delegate votes and won the convention convincingly.
Post-Convention Crisis and Court Intervention
Rather than accept the outcome of a transparent convention, the Maxwell-led faction refused to step down, continuing to parade itself as the leadership of the party. This forced Professor Imumolen to approach the court for interpretation and protection of the party’s democratic process.
The court subsequently issued an order directing INEC to recognize Professor Chris Imumolen as the authentic National Chairman of Accord Party, pending the final determination of the suit.
Unfortunately, INEC has failed to comply with this court order to date, allegedly due to internal influence and collusion by certain officials working with the Maxwell faction, who have cultivated improper relationships within the commission.
Contempt of Court and Further Aberrations
While the matter remains sub judice, the Maxwell faction proceeded to announce the suspension and expulsion of Professor Imumolen and his team—a move that constitutes a gross abuse of court process.
By law and established precedent, no party can take punitive or disciplinary action on issues already before a competent court, rendering such claims null, void, and of no legal effect.
Looking Ahead
Today, the Accord Party finds itself in an unprecedented situation, with two parallel gubernatorial candidates emerging for the 2026 elections. The final outcome rests with the judiciary and the enforcement of constitutional order.
The author, Hon. Moses Jagunmolu, is Accord Party Member, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos State.