The Accord Party in Osun State, a state located in southwestern Nigeria, has reaffirmed that the incumbent governor, Governor Ademola Adeleke, remains the party’s sole and legitimate candidate for the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, 8 August 2026.
The Chairman of the Accord Party in Osun State, Victor Akande, made this declaration while addressing journalists in Osogbo, the capital city of Osun State, Nigeria, dismissing claims that another individual was contesting for the party’s ticket.
Okay News reports that Akande described reports of an alternative governorship candidate allegedly emerging from the party as misleading and legally baseless, insisting that no such candidate exists within the Accord Party’s recognized structure.
According to Akande, the name of Clement Bamigbola, which has been circulated in some political circles as a rival candidate, was linked to what he called a “kangaroo primary” conducted by a non-existent faction.
“The kangaroo primary purportedly held by a non-existent faction is just a ruse, such faction does not exist within our party structure by law,” Akande said.
He further explained that the Independent National Electoral Commission, Nigeria’s electoral management body responsible for conducting elections, has consistently recognized Barrister Maxwell Mgbudem as the legally authorized representative of the Accord Party in several Nigerian states.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission has been dealing with the Barrister Maxwell Mgbudem in the various elections held in some states, including in Anambra State and Ekiti State, and I can assure you that the situation would not be different here in Osun,” he stated.
Akande accused those promoting the existence of a factional candidate of acting for personal financial benefit rather than political legitimacy.
“Those who were spreading the existence of a factional candidate are just political jobbers seeking attention for pecuniary gain. But I am assuring you that Governor Adeleke has no rival as far as our party ticket is concerned,” he added.
Reacting to the emergence of a candidate by the All Progressives Congress, Nigeria’s ruling political party at the federal level, Akande downplayed the chances of the opposition, saying the party had already been rejected by Osun voters.
Speaking on the political history of the state, he recalled the administration of the All Progressives Congress before 2022, alleging poor treatment of workers.
“We know the antecedents of the All Progressives Congress, we know how they governed when they were in power. The party reduced the workers to beggars through the payment of half salary. We would not return to such era again,” Akande said.
He concluded that the electorate would reaffirm their support for Adeleke in the upcoming election.
“The people have rejected the All Progressives Congress at the poll in 2022 and would even speak louder in August to make the All Progressives Congress realise that Osun does not want the party to return it to the era of darkness,” he added.
