Prof. Chris Imumolen, factional National Chairman of the Accord, has called on political stakeholders, party members, and interested observers to refrain from conflicting the party’s ongoing internal leadership crisis with the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.

Imumolen at a media chat on Friday in Abuja also said that the party’s national leadership crisis remained a distinct legal matter currently before the courts and would be pursued to its logical conclusion regardless of electoral outcomes in Osun.

“The leadership question in Accord is a national legal matter currently before the courts and cannot be determined by the outcome of an election in Osun.

“Nobody should interfere with the internal leadership crisis of Accord. This is a matter before the courts, and we shall pursue it to its logical and lawful conclusion,” Imumolen said.

Imumolen clarified that the leadership struggle began long long before the entry of Governor Ademola Adeleke into Accord and predated the state governorship race.

The factional national chairman cited Suit No. FCT/HC/M/11850/2024 before the FCT High Court, presided over by Hon. Justice M. M. Adamu.

He noted that the court had issued an interim order directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him as the authentic National Chairman and restrained rival factions from parading themselves as executive officers.

Imumolen also recalled that he was contacted by former Osun Governor Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola when Adeleke was preparing to defect to the party, but Adeleke failed to establish a comprehensive political solution to the crisis.

“When Governor Adeleke eventually joined the party, rather than first seeking to understand and harmonise the contending leadership structures, he unfortunately took sides with one faction.

“I make this statement not to personalise the dispute, but to put the facts in their proper context.

“Following Governor Adeleke’s entry into the party, efforts were made to engage him and find a political and internal resolution to the leadership crisis. Those efforts did not produce the desired result,” he said.

He noted that eventually, the competing structures proceeded with simultaneous primaries in Osun State, producing different candidates.

“It was only after that development that further efforts were made to reach out and resolve the differences, but unfortunately, we could not arrive at a mutually acceptable conclusion.

“Let me also make it clear that my experience with the other faction did not begin with the Osun election,” he said.

Imumolen stated that the legal leadership of Accord would be determined strictly by the judiciary, not through political propaganda or election results.

He cautioned that nobody should ask his group to abandon a legitimate legal process merely because an election has taken place in Osun.

“The Osun election is an election. The Accord leadership dispute is a national party and legal matter. They are two different issues.

“The Osun election has come and gone the national leadership question within Accord remains a matter to be determined through the appropriate legal process.

“Even with the conclusion of the Osun election, the Accord leadership case will continue.

“It is therefore wrong for anyone to suggest that the outcome of the Osun election will automatically determine who leads Accord nationally.

“Accord is a national political party. Its national leadership cannot be reduced to the political circumstances or outcome of an election in one state.

“We shall continue to pursue the Accord leadership matter through every lawful judicial process available to us until the courts finally determine the competing claims and the rightful leadership of the party is recognised.,” he said.

Prof. Imumolen also reiterated that Accord has no presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election, having stepped down from the race.

He, however, noted that that the political endorsements did not conflict with internal legal proceedings.

“Accordingly, we shall continue to openly declare our support for the re-election of President Tinubu, and continue to mobilise support for his national mandate.

“There is absolutely no contradiction between supporting President Tinubu and pursuing the Accord leadership case in court.

“Our presidential position is a political decision. The Accord leadership dispute is a legal and internal party matter. One does not cancel the other,” he said.

Imumolen appealed to all Accord members, supporters and stakeholders to remain calm, disciplined and law-abiding, while they allow the courts to do their work.

“Our commitment to Accord remains intact. Our commitment to the rule of law remains absolute,” he said.