Party says its expelled former presidential candidate has no authority to speak for Accord, accuses APC of intimidation and urges INEC and security agencies to remain neutral.

The Accord Party has dismissed the reported support of its expelled former 2023 presidential candidate, Chris Imumolen, for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiyi, ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.

The party said Imumolen no longer represents Accord and has no authority to speak on its behalf, insisting that his endorsement of Oyebamiyi would have little or no impact on the outcome of the election.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Chairman, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, the party described Imumolen as a former member who had been expelled from Accord and accused him of attempting to create the impression that he still speaks for the party.

Accord said Imumolen’s appearance at the APC campaign rally in Osogbo, where he openly endorsed Oyebamiyi, further demonstrated that he was no longer associated with the party.

The statement also rejected the description of Imumolen as a “factional chairman” of Accord, arguing that there was no faction within the party.

“The purported appellation, ‘factional chairman’ of Accord is not only mischievous, it is a delusion of the grandeur that exists in his fertile imagination as the party has no faction,” the statement said.

The party further questioned Imumolen’s political influence, claiming that he lacked the electoral structure required to determine the outcome of a governorship election.

Accord maintained that Osun remained one of its strongholds and expressed confidence that voters would support the party in Saturday’s poll.

It also aligned itself with Governor Ademola Adeleke, saying residents of the state had rejected what it described as the APC’s record of governance and were prepared to vote for a continuation of the current administration.

“Osun State is an Accord stronghold, the people are in one accord with Governor Ademola Adeleke and will overwhelmingly vote for the party on Saturday, August 15,” the party said.

Accord predicted a “landslide victory” in the election, arguing that such an outcome would strengthen its political presence in the state and enable it to further pursue what it described as democratic dividends for the people.

The party also accused the APC of resorting to alleged intimidation, harassment and the use of federal institutions because of fears of defeat.

According to Accord, security agencies, particularly the police, as well as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had been used to mount pressure on the Osun State Government, its officials and party members.

The party alleged that such actions were aimed at suppressing its supporters and potentially influencing the outcome of the election in favour of the APC.

Accord, however, did not provide specific evidence in the statement to substantiate the allegations.

The party called on residents of Osun to remain calm and steadfast, while urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the election impartially and transparently.

It equally appealed to security agencies to remain professional and neutral throughout the electoral process.

Beyond domestic institutions, Accord called on international observers and organisations, including the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, African Union, ECOWAS, the United States and the United Kingdom, to closely monitor the election.

It urged the international community to take action against anyone found to have violated electoral rules or attempted to undermine the credibility of the poll.

The party said it was fully prepared for the August 15 election and expressed confidence in its chances, citing Governor Adeleke’s performance and what it described as his transformational leadership in the state.

“Let the Osun State governorship election set a new national standard in the conduct of elections in Nigeria,” the statement added.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, with the APC, Accord and other political parties seeking the support of voters across the state.