The Lagos State Chairman of Accord Party, Dele Oladeji, has rejected claims that the party endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term, saying only an unserious political party would support another party’s candidate.
Oladeji made the position known on Sunday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, after Prof. Christopher Imumolen, a factional Accord presidential candidate, reportedly claimed that the party was backing Tinubu for the 2027 election.
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The chairman said no meeting of Accord’s National Executive Committee, NEC, had discussed or approved an endorsement of Tinubu since preparations for the 2027 general elections began.
“Accord did not and will not endorse Tinubu for a second term. Any person claiming otherwise is playing politics or engaging in anti-party activities,” he said.
Party says it will field candidates
Oladeji said Accord would contest the 2027 elections at all levels, including the presidential election.
He said the party would present candidates for state assembly, governorship, House of Representatives, Senate and presidential elections nationwide.
“Accord candidates will contest every elective position in the country, including the presidential election,” he said.
The chairman said supporting the presidential candidate of another political party would conflict with Accord’s political identity and its plans for the 2027 elections.
“Only an unserious person and political party will endorse the candidate of another party. Accord will not do such,” he said.
Oladeji also said the party had never discussed endorsing Tinubu at any NEC meeting.
“Accord has not at any time discussed any endorsement of President Tinubu at any of our NEC meetings.
“So, there is no basis whatsoever for anybody to claim that Accord has endorsed President Tinubu,” he said.
He asked members and supporters to disregard reports that Accord had reached any agreement to support Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
According to Oladeji, any official decision on the party’s political position must come through its constitutional organs and recognised meetings.
Oladeji questions Imumolen’s membership
The Lagos chairman also questioned Imumolen’s membership of Accord, alleging that his name was not in the party’s current membership register.
He said an older register had been replaced by a new membership register introduced by the party’s national leadership in 2023.
“His name is not on the Accord membership register, as the register he was on had been phased out,” Oladeji said.
He challenged Imumolen to provide evidence of his membership and participation in recognised party structures and activities.
“If Imumolen claims otherwise, let him publish his Accord membership register and pictures of any NEC meeting attended by INEC officials,” he said.
Oladeji also rejected Imumolen’s claim as the official position of Accord, saying the factional presidential candidate was speaking outside the party’s recognised structure.
“Chris Imumolen is impersonating the Accord presidential candidate and declaring support for President Tinubu is political shadow boxing for media attention,” he said.
The chairman, who is also Secretary of the Forum of Accord Party Chairmen in Southern Nigeria, maintained that Accord had not approved any support for Tinubu.
He said the party would retain its independent political position and pursue its electoral plans ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Oladeji’s position places the party’s presidential contest within its own 2027 electoral programme, with Accord set to field candidates across elective positions nationwide.
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