A faction of the Accord Party has taken its internal crisis to the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, where it filed a suit seeking to stop the party’s upcoming Osun governorship primary election and to confirm the suspension of National Chairman Maxwell Mgbudem. The case, filed on December 3, 2025, was brought by Oliver Bitrus, who listed the Accord Party, Mgbudem and the Independent National Electoral Commission as defendants.
Bitrus, represented by his lawyer, Daniel Edeachi, told the court that Mgbudem and his deputy, Okey Nwosu, were suspended by a faction of the party for alleged anti-party activities. He explained that the group appointed Professor Chris Imumolen to fill the leadership vacuum and relied on a previous Federal High Court ruling which they say supports this decision.
In the suit, Bitrus is asking the court to set aside all notices issued by Mgbudem for congresses and primaries connected to the Osun governorship election. He argues that such notices are invalid because they were issued by a suspended party leader. He also wants the court to stop INEC from accepting candidates produced through any process conducted by Mgbudem or anyone acting on his authority.
Bitrus further seeks an order stopping Mgbudem from acting as chairman until disciplinary actions against him are concluded. He also wants the court to confirm him as the lawful Acting National Chairman based on a resolution by the party’s National Executive Committee on November 29, 2025.
The claimant argues that under the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 and the Accord Party Constitution, a suspended national chairman cannot sign statutory notices, call meetings, set up committees or carry out any action on behalf of the party. He is also asking the court to determine whether INEC has the power to accept any action taken by Mgbudem while he remains suspended.
The suit includes several questions seeking judicial clarification on the status of the party’s leadership, the validity of statutory notices, and the legality of actions taken by the suspended chairman, especially regarding the Osun governorship primary.
The court has not yet fixed a date for the hearing of the case.