Fresh controversy has trailed the Osun State governorship primary of the Accord Party following the emergence of two parallel outcomes from rival factions within the party.
While a faction of the Party just declared Clement Bamigbola winner of a governorship primary election in defiance to earlier affirmation of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the party’s sole consensus candidate.
In the primary conducted by one faction of the party, Clement Bamigbola reportedly secured a landslide victory with 1,732 votes, defeating Governor Ademola Adeleke, who polled 241 votes.
The faction described the exercise as valid and in line with the party’s constitution, insisting that the result reflects the will of delegates drawn from across Osun State.
However, a rival faction of the Accord Party rejected the outcome, maintaining that no such competitive primary was recognised by the party’s national leadership. This faction announced that Governor Ademola Adeleke had earlier been adopted as the consensus governorship candidate, following consultations with stakeholders and aspirants, thereby rendering any parallel primary null and void. Leaders of the faction backing Adeleke argued that the consensus arrangement was reached to strengthen the party’s chances in the governorship election and to avoid internal rancour.
They accused the opposing group of conducting an unauthorised primary, describing it as an attempt to undermine party unity. The development has further deepened the crisis within the Accord Party in Osun State, raising questions over which faction’s candidate will eventually be recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Political observers note that unless the internal dispute is resolved swiftly, the party risks being weakened ahead of the governorship election.As of the time of filing this report, both camps remained adamant in their positions, with supporters of Bamigbola celebrating his victory while Adeleke’s loyalists insist he remains the legitimate and sole Accord governorship candidate in Osun State.