FACT-CHECK: Did the Accord Party Leadership Abandon Adeleke for APC’s Oyebamiji in Osun?
By: Peter Emmanuel |
CLAIM
An X post published on August 13, 2026, by a user identified as MaziTundeEdnutfan (@originalprofile) claimed that the Accord Party leadership had withdrawn its support for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election.
The claim gained attention after Prof. Chris Imumolen publicly declared support for Oyebamiji during the APC’s mega rally in Osogbo on August 13, 2026.
As of the time of this fact-check, the post had generated more than 46,000 views, 48 reposts, 182 likes, 27 bookmarks and 228 comments.
FULL TEXT
The post reads:
“BREAKING: In a surprising new twist, last Minutes Trouble For Gov. Ademola Adeleke As Accord Party National Chairman Makes U-Turn, Endorses APC Candidate, AMBO.”
It also asked:
“DO YOU THINK MONEY DON CHANGE HANDS?”
The claim was subsequently amplified by other media platforms. TheGuardian Newspaper, reported that Prof. Christopher Imumolen, described in its report as the National Chairman of the Accord Party, announced the withdrawal of the party’s support for Adeleke and endorsed APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji.
Another online platform, RecruitmentWills, also published the claim under the headline:
“BREAKING: Accord Withdraws Support For Gov Adeleke In Osun, Endorses AMBO.”
The reports gave the impression that the endorsement represented the official position of the entire Accord Party.
VERIFICATION
DNN FactCheck reviewed the viral claim, reports of Prof. Chris Imumolen’s endorsement, statements from the Accord Party and records from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) concerning the party’s leadership.
The verification confirmed that Prof. Christopher Imumolen publicly endorsed the APC governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, at the APC mega rally in Osogbo on August 13, 2026. Imumolen said his faction had withdrawn its support for Governor Ademola Adeleke and directed Accord members in Osun State to support Oyebamiji.
In a report published on April 24, 2026, TheCable reported that the Accord Party said there was no leadership crisis within the party and maintained that Imumolen, its 2023 presidential candidate, was no longer a member of the party and had no legal right to claim its national chairmanship.
While checking the INEC official website, DNN FactCheck found that the commission’s political-party directory lists Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem as the National Chairman of the Accord Party. This shows that Imumolen’s endorsement did not represent the position of the Accord Party leadership recognised by INEC.
The Accord Party subsequently rejected Imumolen’s declaration. In a statement issued on August 13, 2026, National Chairman Maxwell Mgbudem said Imumolen no longer represented the party and dismissed his endorsement of Oyebamiji.
The Osun State chapter of the Accord Party also rejected the endorsement, maintaining that Governor Ademola Adeleke remained the party’s candidate for the election.
DNN FactCheck further found that the dispute over the leadership of the Accord Party has been the subject of previous legal proceedings. However, the current INEC record lists Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem as the party’s National Chairman.
Therefore, while Imumolen’s endorsement of Oyebamiji is genuine, presenting it as a decision of the Accord Party leadership is inaccurate. The INEC-recognised Accord leadership has publicly disowned the endorsement and reaffirmed its position on Adeleke.
VERDICT
FALSE/MISLEADING
WHAT WE FOUND
The viral reports conflated the action of a faction within the Accord Party with the position of the party’s recognised leadership.
Prof. Chris Imumolen did endorse APC’s Oyebamiji. However, the available evidence does not show that the INEC-recognised leadership of the Accord Party withdrew its support for Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The distinction is important because the viral claim presents Imumolen’s endorsement as a decision of the entire Accord Party, whereas the evidence shows that his declaration was made on behalf of a faction within the party.
The recognised leadership under Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem had previously backed Adeleke’s re-election and did not announce a withdrawal of that support.
CONCLUSION
The claim that the Accord Party leadership abandoned Governor Ademola Adeleke for APC’s Oyebamiji is misleading because Prof. Chris Imumolen endorsed Oyebamiji, while the INEC-recognised Accord Party leadership under Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem did not announce a withdrawal of its support for Adeleke.
VERDICT: FALSE/MISLEADING
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