A faction of the Accord Party has produced Clement Bamigbola as its governorship candidate for the 2026 Osun State election, just four days after the emergence of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the party’s flagbearer.
The development has sparked controversy, with critics describing the parallel primary as a “kangaroo” exercise allegedly orchestrated to destabilize the political landscape in Osun State.
One lawyer, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, claimed there is no genuine faction within the Accord Party, alleging that the APC is doing everything possible to destabilize Nigeria’s political system.
“This is a kangaroo process. There is no faction in the Accord Party. What we are seeing is a deliberate attempt by some opposition elements to create confusion and undermine the democratic process,” the lawyer said.
Recall that Adeleke had emerged on Wednesday as the Accord Party’s candidate, being the sole aspirant in the primary exercise conducted under the leadership of Barrister Maxwell Ngbudem, who is recognized by one faction as the national chairman of the party.
However, a rival faction of the party rejected Adeleke’s emergence, insisting that Ngbudem is not the legally recognised national chairman of the Accord Party.
In a fresh development on Sunday, about 300 delegates of the Accord Party from across Osun State elected Bamigbola as the factional candidate during a primary held at Regina Suite, Osogbo.
Bamigbola emerged through a voice vote conducted by the delegates, after which the Chairman of the Primary Committee, Hon. Olufemi Ogundare, declared him the party’s candidate for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
The parallel primary has raised questions about the authenticity of both exercises and which candidate will ultimately be recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the legitimate flagbearer of the Accord Party.