Accord Party Leadership Crisis: Chairman Who Oversaw Adeleke’s Primary Challenged

A leadership dispute has emerged within the Accord Party, raising questions over the legitimacy of its activities as the party prepares for the 2026 governorship elections.

The controversy centers on Barrister Maxwell Mgbudem, the party’s National Chairman, who oversaw the primary election that cleared Governor Ademola Adeleke as the party’s candidate in Osun State.

A faction of the party, led by Prof. Chris Imumolen, a former presidential aspirant, claims that Mgbudem has been suspended from office and should no longer act in any official capacity.

The group filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking a declaration that Mgbudem’s leadership is invalid, and requesting the court to nullify the Osun State governorship primary conducted under his watch.

The faction argues that Mgbudem and his deputy engaged in activities contrary to party rules, and that a properly constituted leadership must take over to ensure internal democracy.

They assert that any primary conducted under a suspended chairman is null and void, including the clearance of Adeleke as the party’s candidate.

However, the Accord Party National Working Committee (NWC) has rejected these claims, describing the suspension as “unconstitutional and politically motivated.”

The NWC maintains that Mgbudem remains the duly elected and INEC-recognised National Chairman. According to the party, the faction led by Imumolen consists of former members who have no authority to remove the chairman or interfere in the party’s affairs.

The leadership dispute has drawn national attention due to its timing, as it coincides with preparations for the 2026 elections. Mgbudem’s faction has already cleared Adeleke for the Osun governorship primary, while the rival faction seeks to invalidate that process through the courts.

Legal experts note that the matter now hinges on the court’s interpretation of party constitutions and Nigerian electoral law, particularly regarding the authority to suspend party officials and the validity of actions taken during disputed tenures.

As the case unfolds, the Accord Party insists it remains united and committed to conducting credible primaries. Meanwhile, the court proceedings will determine the legitimacy of the party’s leadership and the validity of Adeleke’s nomination, setting a precedent for handling internal party disputes in Nigeria.