The Accord Party has dismissed claims of a leadership crisis, insisting that its 2023 presidential candidate, Christopher Imumolen, is no longer a member and cannot lay claim to its national chairmanship.
Imumolen had on Tuesday staged a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding to be recognised as the party’s national chairman and urging the commission to enforce what he described as existing court orders.
But addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, the party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, described the protest as an attempt to mislead the public.
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He said Imumolen and 10 others were expelled from the party in November 2024 over anti-party activities, a decision he noted was ratified by the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Mgbudem Cites Court Judgement
Mgbudem also rejected Imumolen’s claim of a court order backing his leadership, stating that the only order he obtained was an ex parte ruling in 2024, which expired after seven days.
According to him, the party later secured court directives ordering Imumolen and his associates to vacate the national secretariat after allegedly taking it over unlawfully.
“There is no leadership dispute or faction in Accord, and there is no court order directing INEC to recognise Imumolen,” he said.
He added that a suit filed by Imumolen challenging the party’s leadership was struck out by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in July 2025 for lack of jurisdiction.
Court Insists Leadership Claim is Party’s Internal Affairs
Mgbudem quoted the court as ruling that the matter was an internal party dispute not subject to judicial intervention.
He urged party members and the public to disregard Imumolen’s claims, accusing him of filing multiple suits in different courts to create the impression of a crisis.
The chairman maintained that he remains the duly elected leader of the party, having emerged from a national convention held in July 2024 and monitored by INEC.
He added that the party is focused on upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as preparations for the 2027 general election.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.