The internal crisis in the Accord Party has taken a new turn as the Chris Imumolen-led national leadership announced plans to conduct a fresh governorship primary in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mr Imumolen, who insists he is the authentic national chairman of the party, nullified the parallel primaries earlier conducted in the state by the Maxwell Mgbudem-led faction.

In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja by the faction’s national secretary, Muktar Abdallah, the leadership declared that neither Oriyomi Hamzat nor Olakunle Busari, otherwise called “Gudugudu” was a valid governorship candidate of the party.

Mr Imumolen described the emergence of parallel candidates from the same factional process as a reflection of “institutional confusion, greed, money politics, and weak leadership” within the Mgbudem-led group.

He said it was embarrassing that the faction failed to manage its internal processes, thereby exposing the party to public ridicule through conflicting outcomes from the same primary exercise.

According to him, the development further vindicated party members who had long questioned the legitimacy, discipline, and credibility of the rival faction.

He also announced the setting up of a disciplinary committee to investigate the conduct of Mr Mgbudem and the faction’s national secretary, Adebukola Ajaja, over alleged actions that brought embarrassment to the party.

Mr Imumolen assured stakeholders in Oyo State that the national leadership would soon conduct a fresh, transparent and unified primary to produce a legitimate governorship candidate.

“The authentic leadership of the party remains committed to internal democracy, justice and the rule of law, and will not allow selfish interests to undermine its integrity,” he said.

The party urged members to remain calm as efforts continue to reposition the Accord Party ahead of the 2027 general elections. 

(NAN)