Osun guber: Accord Party disowns Chris Imumolen over statement on Governor Adeleke’s candidacy

By Jethro Ibileke

The Accord Party has dissociated itself from a statement credited to Chris Imumolen concerning Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s defection and emergence as the party’s consensus candidate.

Imumolen had allegedly described Governor Adeleke’s defection to the party as a “backdoor entry,” declaring it invalid.

However, the Accord Party, in a statement issued on Monday by its National Coordinator, Rev. (Dr.) Isaac Adeniyi, described the statement as reckless, illegal, null, and void.

Adeniyi, who commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for recognising Governor Ademola Adeleke as the legitimate candidate of the Accord Party, duly elected as its consensus candidate, urged the electoral umpire to discountenance what he described as a renegade group.

The statement read in part:

“Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to one Chris Imumolen, criticising Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, for defecting to our great party, the Accord Party.

“Accord disassociates the party from the reckless statements of the said Imumolen. Let it also be known that, in trying to display his ignorance by challenging the legitimacy of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory at the Accord Party primary, Imumolen hurriedly went into hiding to organise a kangaroo primary elsewhere in Osun State, unknown to the public, proclaiming himself as National Chairman alongside his disguised National Working Committee members. The actions of Imumolen are illegal, null, and void.

“The general public is hereby warned not to associate with him, as he and his group do not represent the Accord Party in any capacity whatsoever.”

The statement recalled that Governor Ademola Adeleke was duly registered at his ward as a member of the Accord Party, contested the party primary, and eventually emerged as the consensus candidate.

“The party primary was conducted and witnessed by INEC officials, after which he was elected as the Accord flag bearer. The Accord constitution also stipulates the issuance of the party ticket to a sole candidate in the absence of other contestants.

“Those sponsoring Imumolen know for sure that Governor Adeleke will emerge victorious in the forthcoming Osun State governorship election. Other political parties should put their leaking umbrella and uncoordinated, scattered broom in Osun State in order. There is no killing the beetle; Imole is sure of victory,” the statement concluded.