Accord Party faction faults INEC over Osun gov primary dispute

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A faction of the Accord Party has faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission over its reported disownment of a factional governorship primary in Osun State.

PUNCH Online earlier reported that the faction led by its former presidential candidate, Professor Chris Imumolen, had conducted a governorship primary, which produced Bamigbola Clement as its candidate for the August 8, 2026, governorship poll.

While another faction of the party, led by Isaac Adeniyi, also conducted another primary, which threw up Governor Ademola Adeleke as its flagbearer.

But the Independent National Electoral Commission accepted the result of the primary that threw up Adeleke and disowned the primary which produced Clement.

INEC’s Public Relations Officer in the state, Musa Olurode, said the commission was unaware of the parallel exercise.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its National Secretary, Muktar Abdalla, the Imumolen-led faction said it complied fully with the provisions of the Electoral Act by notifying INEC of its governorship primary.

The faction described the development as a result of internal documentation gaps within the electoral body rather than any failure by the party.

According to the party, the notification was duly submitted to INEC headquarters and acknowledged, adding that evidence of receipt remains on record.

“While we respect the role of the media and the statutory responsibilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it is important to set the record straight and clarify critical facts deliberately or inadvertently omitted.

“First, the claims attributed to INEC clearly expose internal inefficiencies and weak document control mechanisms within the Commission, rather than any failure on the part of the Accord Party. The Party duly complied with the law by submitting the required notification of its governorship primary to the INEC Headquarters, in line with the Electoral Act. Evidence of submission exists, including a received and acknowledged copy, which remains on record.

“The minimum requirement under the law is notification and acknowledgement—not internal circulation within INEC, which remains the Commission’s sole responsibility,” the statement read.

The party argued that any failure to internally relay or process the communication within INEC should not be attributed to the Accord Party, describing such lapses as administrative shortcomings on the part of the Commission.

It also faulted INEC for failing to comply with a subsisting court order recognising Professor Imumolen as the National Chairman of the party.

“Furthermore, the leadership dispute within the Accord Party is already before a competent court, with the matter scheduled for hearing on 8th January, where the issue of rightful leadership will be conclusively determined—despite the existence of a prior court order already recognising the Prof. Chris Imumolen–led leadership.

“It is therefore premature, misleading, and legally unsustainable for INEC to take public positions that prejudge a matter already before the courts, especially while remaining in contempt of an existing judgment,” the statement added.

The party reaffirmed its commitment to due process, the rule of law, internal democracy and peaceful political engagement.

It, therefore, called on INEC to strengthen its internal documentation and communication systems and ensure full compliance with court orders.

Olugbenga is a fine-grained journalist with over nine years of experience. He loves the smell of a good lead and has a penchant for finding out interesting good reports.

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