Osun Poll: Fresh Crisis Hits Adeleke as Accord Faction Withdraws Support, Backs AMBO Amid Legal Questions
Osun Poll: Fresh Crisis Hits Adeleke as Accord Faction Withdraws Support, Backs AMBO Amid Legal Questions
The political battle ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election took another dramatic turn on Thursday as a faction of the national leadership of the Accord Party withdrew its support for Governor Ademola Adeleke and declared support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO.
The development, coming barely two days before the August 15 election, represents a significant political challenge for Adeleke at a time when campaigns have reached their final and most critical stage.
Professor Christopher Imumolen, the Accord Party’s 2023 presidential candidate who presents himself as the party’s National Chairman, announced the decision during the APC governorship mega rally in Osogbo. He said the leadership aligned with him had resolved to withdraw support for Adeleke and throw its weight behind Oyebamiji.
The announcement immediately intensified the controversy surrounding the internal leadership of Accord, the platform on which Adeleke is seeking another term.
However, the development should not be interpreted as an uncontested decision of the entire Accord Party. The Osun State chapter has rejected Imumolen’s declaration and reaffirmed its support for Adeleke, describing Imumolen as lacking the authority to speak for the party. This competing claim underscores the depth of the leadership dispute now surrounding the party just before voters go to the polls.
For Adeleke, the timing could hardly be more politically sensitive. Rather than concentrating exclusively on mobilising voters in the closing hours of the campaign, his camp must now contend with questions about the unity and authority of the political platform carrying his candidacy.
The controversy has also revived discussion about possible post-election legal battles. Accord chieftain Israel Jagunmolu recently argued that even if Adeleke wins Saturday’s election, litigation surrounding the party’s leadership could create legal complications for his candidacy. That remains an allegation and legal interpretation rather than a court determination that Adeleke would lose office.
There has already been significant litigation surrounding Accord. A Federal High Court judgment had earlier ordered the deregistration of Accord and some other political parties, but the Court of Appeal subsequently overturned the deregistration decision. Adeleke publicly welcomed that appellate ruling, saying it removed uncertainty surrounding Accord’s participation in the Osun election.
Consequently, claims circulating that Adeleke would automatically lose his mandate on “technical legal grounds” even if declared winner should be treated cautiously unless and until a competent court makes such a determination. What is clear, however, is that the factional struggle within Accord could provide fertile ground for further litigation after the election.
For Oyebamiji and the APC, Imumolen’s appearance at the party’s mega rally offers another political boost at the climax of the campaign. The APC can now point to the endorsement as evidence that its candidate is attracting support beyond the traditional boundaries of the ruling party.
With the election only hours away, the contest has therefore moved beyond the conventional battle between Adeleke and Oyebamiji. Party leadership disputes, political endorsements and potential legal challenges are increasingly becoming part of the conversation surrounding what happens both at the ballot box and potentially after the results are declared.
For Adeleke, the immediate challenge is to demonstrate that the disagreement within Accord will not weaken his electoral machinery. For Oyebamiji, the latest development provides additional momentum and an opportunity to consolidate the APC’s argument that political forces across Osun are increasingly rallying behind AMBO.
As Osun voters prepare to make their choice on August 15, the ballot remains decisive. But given the disputes surrounding Accord, the political and legal battles over the governorship contest may not necessarily end when the votes are counted.
