Osun Poll: Accord Expels Ex-Presidential Candidate Imumolen For Backing APC’s Oyebamiji

The Accord Party has expelled Chris Imumolen, its former 2023 presidential candidate, for supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of Saturday’s election.

The party announced the decision after Imumolen attended an APC campaign rally in Osogbo and publicly backed Oyebamiji.

Accord National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, said Imumolen’s action showed that he no longer represented the party or spoke on its behalf.

Mgbudem said in a statement that Imumolen’s support for the APC candidate was inconsistent with the position of Accord ahead of the election.

He also rejected claims that Imumolen was a factional chairman of the party, saying Accord has no faction.

“His appearance at the APC rally in Osogbo where he backed its candidate is a glaring testament that he is not a member of the party and does not represent the party in any capacity,” Mgbudem said.

The party maintained that it remains behind Governor Ademola Adeleke and its supporters in the state. Mgbudem said Accord is confident of winning the governorship election and accused the APC of using intimidation and federal institutions to put pressure on its members.

The party called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free and credible election and urged security agencies to remain neutral and professional during the exercise.

Accord also appealed to the European Union, African Union, ECOWAS, United States and United Kingdom to monitor the election and take action against anyone found to have violated the rules.

The development comes a day before the Osun governorship election, with the major political parties intensifying their campaigns and seeking the support of voters across the state.

Accord said it would participate in the election and expressed confidence that its support for Adeleke and the governor’s record would help the party secure victory.

“It is obvious that Accord will secure a landslide victory in this election that will further consolidate the party in the state and improve the delivery of democracy dividends to the people,” Mgbudem said.

“It is the fear of its worst electoral defeat that APC resorted to violence, harassment, intimidation and the use of federal institutions particularly, the police and the EFCC to suppress the government and people of Osun State, including Accord members hoping to compromise the election in favour of the APC.”