Adeleke camp dismisses Accord faction’s endorsement of APC’s Oyebamiji

The Imole Campaign Council has rejected the endorsement of All Progressives Congress governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji by Christopher Imumolen, saying the endorsement does not represent the position of the Accord Party ahead of the Osun State governorship election.

The council, which is supporting Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election, said the recognised National Chairman of Accord, Maxwell Mgbudem, remains committed to Adeleke and has not withdrawn the party’s support for the incumbent governor.

The reaction came on Thursday, shortly after Imumolen appeared at the APC mega rally in Osogbo and announced his support for Oyebamiji ahead of Saturday’s election.

Imumolen, who identifies himself as the National Chairman of Accord, had declared at the rally that his faction was no longer supporting Adeleke. He also called on Accord members in Osun State to vote for the APC candidate during the August 15 poll.

However, the Imole Campaign Council disputed Imumolen’s claim to the leadership of the party, describing him as a factional leader whose endorsement could not be regarded as an official decision of Accord.

In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the council said Mgbudem is the Accord chairman recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The council maintained that Mgbudem continues to support Adeleke’s bid for another term and has not endorsed Oyebamiji.

The dispute follows the appearance of Imumolen at the APC rally, where he publicly switched from an Accord-branded yellow cap to an APC cap as he announced his support for Oyebamiji.

The development has added another layer to the leadership crisis within Accord, which has continued to play out as the Osun election draws closer.

The Imole Campaign Council accused the APC of using Imumolen’s appearance to create the impression that Accord had abandoned Adeleke and moved its support to the ruling party’s candidate.

It urged voters to disregard the endorsement, insisting that the Accord leadership recognised by INEC remains behind Adeleke.

The council also said Adeleke was still the candidate previously backed by the party and maintained that the governor was preparing to contest the election with the support of the recognised Accord leadership.

The disagreement is coming at a critical stage of the Osun election, with Adeleke and Oyebamiji among the leading contenders in Saturday’s contest.

Earlier, Accord had presented Adeleke with its certificate of return after the party’s governorship primary, with Mgbudem playing a key role in the process.

The competing claims by Imumolen and Mgbudem have now created uncertainty over which faction can speak for the party as voters prepare to choose the next governor of Osun State on August 15.