2027: Accord Party factions clash over parallel governorship candidates in Oyo

The Accord Party is embroiled in a fresh crisis as conflicting factions have announced parallel candidates for the 2027 Oyo State governorship election, exposing deep internal divisions.

Just a day after announcing popular broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat as its governorship candidate, another faction declared Olakunle Busari as the winner of a separate primary. This dual announcement has created significant confusion over the party's authentic nominee.

Chris Imumolen, the Accord Party's National Chairman from one of the rival factions, officially nullified both governorship primaries. He stated that neither Hamzat nor Busari is the valid candidate, citing "confusion, greed, money politics and lack of leadership capacity" within the opposing leadership, which is recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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Chris Imumolen, National Chairman of Accord, has officially nullified the shameful and controversial governorship primaries conducted in Oyo State, insisting that neither Oriyomi Hamzat nor Olakunle ‘Gudugudu’ Busari is the valid gubernatorial candidate of the Accord Party.

The party has been battling a prolonged leadership tussle, splitting into two factions. Imumolen's faction claims legitimacy, while the other, led by Maxwell Mgbudem and National Secretary Adebukola Ajaja, is recognized by INEC and backed by court rulings. This internal conflict has fueled disputes over party control nationwide and led to public embarrassment.

Imumolen's faction described the Oyo primaries as "shameful and controversial" and accused the rival leadership of pursuing personal interests. They have constituted a disciplinary committee to address the crisis, underscoring the deep-seated legitimacy and management issues within the Accord Party.

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The emergence of two different candidates from the same faction is a clear indication of the confusion, greed, money politics and lack of leadership capacity within the Maxwell–Ajaja led faction of Accord.