By Emmanuel Oloniruha
Stakeholders of the Accord Party in Lagos have reaffirmed their loyalty to the party’s former presidential candidate, Prof. Christopher Imumolen, as the substantive National Chairman.
The stakeholders, led by Mr Moses Jaguars, said this in a statement on Saturday, warning against attempts to hijack the party’s structure ahead of the 2026 and 2027 electoral cycles.
Jaguars described moves to dismiss Imumolen’s mandate as “laughable and legally untenable,” stressing that there was a valid subsisting court order affirming his leadership.
“There is a valid subsisting court order on this matter.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has acknowledged the situation and assured compliance, pending final determination at the Federal High Court. No amount of propaganda can override the rule of law,” he said.
He added that the party would resist any form of external interference.
“Let it be known that Accord is not for sale. It is not a dumping ground for political mercenaries or a tool for external manipulation.
“Those attempting to distort its structure for personal gain will be firmly resisted within the bounds of the law,” Jaguars said.
He also expressed concern over recent statements credited to the party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, denying any collaboration with the ruling party or President Bola Tinubu, describing the denial as an attempt to cover up a political conspiracy.
“The same individuals now issuing denials are aware of visible and well-documented evidence, including billboards across Osun and public engagements where Gov. Ademola Adeleke openly aligned with Tinubu,” he said.
Jaguars further alleged that some elements within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had planted agents within Accord to facilitate a backdoor takeover of the party’s structure.
He claimed that a known PDP figure was already opening campaign offices nationwide under the Accord platform.
Jaguars called on party members and the public to remain vigilant, assuring that the integrity of the party would be defended within the ambit of the law.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some members of the party had on Tuesday staged a protest at INEC, demanding the immediate recognition of Imumolen as the party’s national chairman.
Speaking during the protest, Imumolen expressed frustration over what he described as INEC’s reluctance to enforce judicial decisions, and urged the commission to comply with valid court orders affirming his mandate.
However, Mgbudem, at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, disowned the protest, insisting that there was no leadership crisis or faction within the party.
He also denied any collaboration with the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. (NAN)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
