The Accord Party has denied endorsing President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship election, reaffirming its support for Governor Ademola Adeleke's re-election bid. National Chairman Maxwell Mgbudem made the clarification during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, stating, "There is nothing like that (Tinubu's endorsement). This is a political party, and Governor Adeleke is our candidate." He emphasized that any official endorsement would be announced by the party, not through external claims or imagery. The statement follows the appearance of a billboard in Iwo, Osun State, featuring both Tinubu and Adeleke, which sparked backlash from the All Progressives Congress. The APC accused Adeleke of leveraging the president's image, while the governor's spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, countered that the ruling party was reacting to Adeleke's growing popularity.
Mgbudem confirmed that Adeleke remains the party's sole focus, with internal preparations underway after a recent National Executive Committee meeting. He noted that nomination forms are being purchased by aspirants across various positions, with primaries yet to be held. The chairman cited Adeleke's performance as a key factor in public support, stating, "Everybody in this country, including journalists, knows he has done wonderfully well in the state." He also mentioned the governor's backing from the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun, framing the upcoming election as one driven by mass participation. Mgbudem dismissed claims of internal party conflict, particularly those by expelled former candidate Christopher Imumolen, who attempted to claim leadership based on what Mgbudem called a non-existent court order. "There is no leadership dispute or faction in Accord," he said, adding that the party remains united and undistracted by such developments.
Maxwell Mgbudem insists there is no endorsement of Bola Tinubu while simultaneously highlighting a billboard in Iwo that pairs Tinubu with Adeleke, creating confusion over the party's actual stance. The Accord Party claims Adeleke's re-election is backed by public approval, yet relies on imagery of a sitting president it officially denies aligning with. If the billboard was unauthorized, as the party suggests, no action or investigation into its origin has been mentioned. Ordinary voters in Osun may struggle to reconcile the party's public denials with the political symbolism it allows to stand.
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