The national leadership of Accord has dismissed its expelled former 2023 presidential candidate, Chris Imumolen’s support for the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiyi for the Osun State governorship election, stating that Imumolen has no electoral value to influence any election in the country.

In a press statement signed by Chief Maxwell Mgbudem esq National Chairman, Accord, the party described that Imumolen is a political hireling and hustler seeking stomach infrastructure and has no political structure that will favour his preferred candidate in the election.

That Imumolen attended the APC rally in Osogbo where he backed its candidate is a glaring testament that he is not a member of Accord and does not represent the party in any capacity.

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.

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.

It is obvious that Accord will secure a landslide victory in this election that will further consolidate the party in the state and improve the delivery of democracy dividends to the people.

It is the fear of its worst electoral defeat that APC resorted to violence, harassment, intimidation and the use of federal Institutions particularly, the police and the EFCC to suppress the Government and people of Osun State including Accord members hoping to compromise the election in favour of the APC.

The good people of Osun remain resolute, firm and steadfast in their support for Accord and their governor.

The party urges INEC to be neutral and conduct a credible election, and also urges security agencies to be impartial and professional in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities.

Accord calls on the international community particularly, the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Africa Union, ECOWAS, United States of America and United Kingdom to strictly monitor the election and sanction anyone found wanting.

The party is set and ready for the governorship election and expresses confidence to win banking on Governor Adeleke’s achievements and transformational leadership in the state.

Let the Osun State governorship election set a new national standard in the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

Photo: A collage of Adeleke, Oyebamiji, and Salaam

Tomorrow  – Saturday, August 15, is the D-Day for the Osun governorship election.

Of the 15 political parties and their candidates listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the  governorship polls, the much talked about contenders are the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke of the Accord party.

Others are Najeem Salaam (African Democratic Congress, ADC), and Bola Oyebamiji (All Progressives Congress, APC).

The candidates will battle for the votes of 2,339, 233 residents registered to participate in the election.

Here’s a short background of each of the candidates:

ADELEKE (ACCORD)

Apart from being the incumbent governor, he also enjoyed acceptability among the majority of civil servants and the leadership of the labour unions; the NLC, TUC and JNC are all on his side and appearing in the Accord party campaign soliciting support for the governor.

The Governor is also banking on his achievements in the area of infrastructure across the three senatorial districts, which has been driving his campaigns so far.

BOLAJI OYEBAMIJI (APC)

The APC candidate is believed to enjoy the support of President Bola Tinubu and the APC governors, who will stop at nothing to ensure victory for the party at the polls.

The APC candidate’s personality and philanthropy has endeared him to the people.

Apart from being endorsed by the President, Oyebamiji’s election bid receive a major boost with the defection of all the federal lawmakers from Osun-East senatorial district, who are also major political gladiators from the towns.

They include Senator Francis Fadahunsi, Mr Wole Oke (Ijesa-North federal constituency), Sanya Omirin (Ijesa-South federal constituency) and Mr Taofeek Ajilesoro (Ife federal constituency).

NAJEEM SALAAM (ADC)

Since unveiling his 10 point agenda, anchored on workers’ welfare and sustainable electricity for the industrialisation of the state, Salaam, a former Speaker of the House of Assembly, has continuously been engaging with the electorate on the need to abandon the traditional political parties.

Salaam’s advantage is Aregbesola’s grassroots appeal when he was governor in the state and the candidate’s humble nature that attracts him to a section of supporters across the state, especially from Osun-West Senatorial District where he hails from .

Many grassroots politicians, who left the APC along with Aregbesola, are with Salaam, which is helping to bolster his governorship ambition.

Says Reproduced Ballot Papers Will arrive on Thursday

With few days to the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, the Independent National Electoral Commisson (INEC) has confirmed the inclusion of the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo on the ballot.

The decision follows a Federal High Court judgment which had ordered the commission to forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish the name and particulars of Ajala as the candidate of the SDP.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, confirmed this in a statement, two days after the National Chairman of the SDP, Prof Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, informed Arise News that the party would go to court to challenge the action of INEC.

The statement reads, “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wishes to inform the public that the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the Osun State Governorship Election, Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, have been added to the ballot for the election.

“This action has been taken in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on 22nd July 2026 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026, between Social Democratic Party and Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala on the one hand and the Independent National Electoral Commission on the other.

“The Court had ordered the Commission to forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish the name and particulars of Dr. Francis Olugbenga Ajala as the candidate of the Social Democratic Party.

“Consequently, the ballot papers for the election, scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 15 2026, are being reproduced to reflect this addition, bringing to fifteen (15) the total number of political parties contesting the election.

The result sheets for the election are also being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to reflect the inclusion of the SDP candidate.

The commission wishes to inform the public that the reproduced ballot papers will arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13 2026, and will, same day, be moved to Local Government Area offices across the State, in line with its standard distribution procedure ahead of the election.

“INEC assures political parties, candidates, and the general public of its commitment to conducting a free, fair, and credible election in Osun State.”