According to a report by Punch on Thursday, April 23, 2026, the Accord Party has declared support for Ademola Adeleke ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Osun State, while also dismissing rumours that the party had endorsed President Bola Tinubu.
The party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, made the clarification on Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja, stating that Adeleke remains the party’s central political figure in the state and would emerge through the party’s internal democratic process.
“There is nothing like that. This is a political party and Governor Adeleke is our candidate,” Mgbudem said, while addressing claims of a presidential endorsement allegedly linked to the party. He insisted that any official endorsement would be communicated formally through the party’s national leadership.
The controversy followed the circulation of a billboard in Iwo, Osun State, which reportedly featured images of both President Tinubu and Governor Adeleke, sparking political reactions from opposition and ruling party stakeholders. While the All Progressives Congress (APC) accused Adeleke of leveraging the President’s image, the governor’s camp denied any wrongdoing.
Mgbudem, however, expressed strong confidence in Adeleke’s performance and popularity in Osun State, describing him as widely accepted by the electorate.
“On Governor Adeleke, everybody in this country knows he has done wonderfully well in the state,” he said. “And the people are eager to vote for him again.”
He maintained that the party is not worried about opposition criticism, insisting that Adeleke’s track record will secure him victory if he chooses to contest under the Accord Party platform.
The chairman also dismissed speculation of internal crisis or factional disputes within the party, stating that the Accord Party remains united and focused on electoral preparations.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no leadership dispute or faction in Accord,” Mgbudem said, adding that the party is fully prepared to present candidates through transparent primaries ahead of the 2027 elections.
