The factional National Chairman of Acord party, Prof. Chris Imumolen has alleged that Gov. Ademola Adeleke endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s re-election for 2027 in order to avoid direct political confrontation in Osun, ahead of the Saturday governorship election in the state.

Imumolen in a statement on Sunday in Abuja said that Adeleke’s relationship with President Tinubu may be part of a broader political calculation aimed at avoiding unnecessary confrontation with the Federal Government during the Osun political struggle.

He noted that the political stakes became even higher after he, Imumolen, withdrew his faction’s support for Adeleke and publicly backed  All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji at the party mega rally in Osun.

On the second issue, which he identified as the accord leadership tussle, Imumolen warned that the battle involving Adeleke was not only about who wins at the ballot box.

He stressed that the unresolved legal battle over the leadership and control of the Accord party between Imumolen and Maxwell Mgbudem-led faction remained extremely important issue.

The Imumolen faction maintains that it is the legitimate leadership of Accord, while the Mgbudem-led faction has endorsed Adeleke. That competing recognition has created a significant political and legal dispute.

Imumolen said If the courts ultimately rule in favour of his led faction, the consequences could extend beyond the internal leadership of Accord and potentially affect the political foundation on which Adeleke contested.

“That is why the legal battle cannot simply be dismissed as an ordinary party leadership disagreement.

“Could Adeleke’s political calculation be influenced by the possibility that the Accord leadership dispute may ultimately be determined by the courts? That is the question Osun people should be asking,’’ he said.

Imumolen, however, said it was important to distinguish political analysis from an established legal fact.

“A victory by Imumolen’s faction would not automatically mean that Adeleke would be removed from office; the actual consequences would depend on the final judgment, the orders made by the court, and the applicable electoral law.

“What is clear is that the political battle has had two fronts: the ballot box and the courtroom.

“Prof. Chris Imumolen has already publicly declared his support for President Tinubu for 2027, while his faction also withdrew support for Adeleke and backed Oyebamiji in the Osun contest.

“So, Is the Adeleke Battle Really Over? Not necessarily.

“An election result may settle the electoral contest, but it does not automatically extinguish a separate legal dispute over party leadership.

“The ballot may produce a winner. The court may determine the legal consequences,’’ he said