The national leadership of the Accord Party on Sunday, 14 December 2025, in Abuja, presented a Certificate of Return to Mr Clement Bamigbola, signalling a fresh twist in the build-up to the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
The development indicates that the national faction of the party does not recognise Governor Ademola Adeleke as its candidate, despite his recent defection to the Accord Party. Party officials at the national level said the certificate issued to Bamigbola reflects the outcome of a separate process they consider valid.
Earlier on Sunday, a faction of the Accord Party in Osun State, led by Chris Imumolen, announced Bamigbola as its governorship candidate after conducting its own primary election. The group openly criticised Governor Adeleke’s move to the party, describing it as a “back-door entry” and declaring it invalid.
According to the faction, laid-down party rules were not followed in the governor’s defection and subsequent steps, raising doubts about the legality of his participation in the party’s internal process. Members of the group warned that accepting such actions could worsen internal divisions and weaken party unity ahead of the election.
This position contrasts sharply with actions taken by another wing of the party. Following Adeleke’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, the Accord Party’s national secretariat had earlier cleared him to take part in the Osun governorship primary.
Elder Ibe Thankgod, Chairman of the Accord Party Screening Committee, confirmed that Adeleke was screened ahead of the primary held on Wednesday, shortly after his defection alongside his deputy and other senior aides.
Reports from that exercise indicated that Adeleke, who was said to be the sole aspirant, polled 145 of the 150 votes cast by delegates, leading to claims that he had emerged as the party’s governorship candidate less than 24 hours after joining the Accord Party.
The presentation of a Certificate of Return to Bamigbola by the national faction has now thrown the party into uncertainty, with multiple claims to the ticket and growing questions over which process will stand as the race toward the 2026 Osun governorship election gathers momentum.