Setback for Adeleke second term bid, Accord Party faction names Bamigbola 2026 gov candidate 

The internal crisis rocking the Accord Party in Osun State deepened on Sunday as a rival faction of the party conducted a parallel governorship primary that produced Mr. Clement Bamigbola as its candidate for the 2026 governorship election.

The development came barely four days after Governor Ademola Adeleke was announced as the Accord Party’s governorship candidate following a primary election organised by a faction loyal to the party’s national leadership under Barrister Maxwell Mgbudem.

That earlier exercise, held on Wednesday, had thrown up Adeleke as the party’s flagbearer, a move that immediately sparked controversy within the party.

A dissenting faction rejected the process, insisting that Mgbudem is not the legally recognised National Chairman of Accord and therefore lacks the authority to conduct a valid primary election.

In a counter move on Sunday, the aggrieved faction organised its own governorship primary in Osogbo, the state capital. The exercise, which took place at Regina Suites, was attended by about 300 delegates drawn from across the 30 local government areas of the state.

At the end of the exercise, Bamigbola emerged as the faction’s governorship candidate through a voice vote conducted by the delegates and supervised by the faction’s electoral committee. He was subsequently declared winner by the committee, which described the process as transparent and in line with the party’s constitution.

The faction maintained that its primary was the only legitimate exercise recognised by its leadership structure, reiterating that the process which produced Adeleke was invalid due to alleged leadership irregularities at the national level.

The parallel primaries have further exposed the deepening schism within the Accord Party in Osun State, raising fresh questions about which faction the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will eventually recognise ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

Political observers note that unless the crisis is urgently resolved through reconciliation or legal clarification, the party risks being shut out of the race or weakened by prolonged internal disputes at a time when preparations for the Osun governorship contest are gathering momentum.

Osun 2026 APC Governorship Primary: Seven Aspirants Withdraw, Endorse Oyebamiji

The race for the Osun 2026 APC governorship ticket has taken a major turn as seven aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have withdrawn from the primary election and endorsed Bola Oyebamiji as the consensus candidate.

President Bola Tinubu meet with APC Governorship Primary aspirants in Aso Villa

The decision followed a strategic meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday, where party unity and the need to avoid a divided primary dominated discussions. After the engagement, the aspirants agreed to back Oyebamiji to strengthen the party’s chances ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship election.

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Those who stepped down include former Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Babatunde Haketer Oralusi, and Mulikat Abiola Jimoh. Their withdrawal comes amid heightened calls from senior APC stakeholders urging a united front to prevent internal crises.

However, the absence of former APC National Secretary Iyiola Omisore at the meeting raised further questions. Omisore, recently disqualified from the primary — a decision he dismissed as “a joke” — has been at the centre of growing tensions within the party.

Party insiders say the endorsement of a consensus candidate is intended to streamline preparations, reduce litigation risks, and project stability as the APC positions itself to reclaim Osun State.

Osun 2026 APC Governorship Primary: Seven Aspirants Withdraw, Endorse Oyebamiji

Accord Clears Adeleke as Sole Aspirant for Osun Governorship Primary

The screening committee of Accord has cleared Governor Ademola Adeleke to contest in the party’s gubernatorial primary scheduled for today in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

In a statement, Ibe Thankgod, chairman of the screening committee and national organising secretary of the party, said Adeleke emerged as the sole aspirant after meeting all requirements for nomination.

“The committee subsequently cleared Governor Adeleke as the sole aspirant for the party’s governorship ticket and concluded all required documentations with relevant bodies,” the statement read.

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Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson to the governor, confirmed the development, noting that Adeleke has been presented with a certificate of clearance.

He added that the governor has assured the party of his readiness to fly the Accord flag responsibly and secure victory in the 2026 Osun governorship election.

Adeleke officially joined Accord on Tuesday, days after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said the move was driven by the need to sustain his administration’s “delivery of good governance and democratic dividends,” which he claims have received both local and international commendation.

Accord Clears Adeleke as Sole Aspirant for Osun Governorship Primary