INEC disowns alleged Accord Party factional governorship primary in Osun

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Osun State has stated that it was not notified of any governorship primary conducted by a faction of the Accord Party, following reports of a parallel exercise held on Sunday.

The disputed primary reportedly took place in Osogbo, the state capital, where a faction announced Bamigbola Clement as its candidate for the August 8, 2026, governorship election. Bamigbola, presented as the sole aspirant, confirmed his emergence, saying he was selected through a consensus process.

However, INEC’s Public Relations Officer in the state, Musa Olurode, said the commission was unaware of such an exercise. He explained that INEC only monitored the officially recognised Accord Party primary conducted earlier and has since submitted its report.

“We monitored the Accord Party primary held a few days ago, and our report has already been filed. INEC has no knowledge of any other primary by the party,” Olurode said.

The officially recognised Accord Party governorship primary was held last Wednesday in Osogbo and produced Governor Ademola Adeleke as the party’s candidate. According to Abdulazeez Salaudeen, Secretary of the party’s electoral committee, Adeleke secured 145 votes from the 150 accredited delegates, while five votes were voided.

Reacting to the development, the caretaker chairman of the Accord Party in Osun State, Babalola Akande, dismissed the factional exercise, insisting that its organisers lacked the authority to conduct a primary on behalf of the party. Speaking with journalists on Sunday, Akande maintained that Adeleke remains the party’s legitimate governorship candidate.

“This position is final, lawful, and beyond dispute. No parallel arrangement, impersonation, or stage-managed event can overturn this reality,” he said.

Akande also warned that the party would pursue legal action against individuals or groups attempting to legitimise or support the factional candidates, describing the move as an attempt by “politically displaced elements seeking a return to relevance through illegitimate means.”