INEC Disowns Factional Accord Party Governorship Primary in Osun

BY favour momodu
December 14, 2025
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State has disowned a governorship primary election reportedly conducted by a faction of the Accord Party in the state, saying it was not notified of the exercise as required by law.

A faction of the Accord Party on Sunday allegedly held a primary election in Osogbo, the state capital, which reportedly produced Mr Bamigbola Clement as its candidate for the August 8, 2026, governorship election.

However, INEC said it had no knowledge of the exercise, stressing that political parties are mandated by the Electoral Act to formally notify the commission of any primary election within the stipulated timeframe.

Speaking on the development, an INEC official in the state, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the commission did not monitor the said primary and therefore could not recognise its outcome.

“INEC was not informed of any governorship primary by the Accord Party in Osun. Consequently, the commission did not deploy officials to monitor the exercise,” the source said.

Reports indicated that the primary election, which began with the accreditation of delegates, was held under heavy security presence, with a large number of armed police operatives observed around the venue.

The conduct of the parallel primary has further exposed internal divisions within the Accord Party in Osun State, raising questions over the legitimacy of candidates that may emerge from the party ahead of the 2026 governorship poll.

Under the Electoral Act, INEC is required to monitor party primaries, and only candidates that emerge from properly conducted and duly monitored primaries can be recognised by the commission.

Efforts to get official reactions from the leadership of the Accord Party in the state were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The development comes as political activities intensify in Osun State ahead of the 2026 governorship election, with parties beginning internal processes to select candidates.