Governor Adeleke Joins Accord on a Wrong Footing: Legal and Political Risks Ahead*
*Governor Adeleke Joins Accord on a Wrong Footing: Legal and Political Risks Ahead*
Governor Ademola Adeleke’s recent move to join the Accord Party has generated intense debate, not because of the decision itself, but because of the faction he aligned with. The Accord Party, for months, has been deeply fractionalized, with Bar. Maxwell Ndubem and Prof. Chris Imumolen both laying claim to the national chairmanship.
In October 2024, the FCT High Court issued a clear judgment recognizing Prof. Chris Imumolen as the authentic National Chairman of the Accord Party. Despite this judicial pronouncement, INEC has yet to fully comply with the court’s order, creating a situation where two factions continue to operate in parallel.
Governor Adeleke reportedly joined the faction led by Bar. Maxwell Ndubem, a group considered by some as “recognized” by INEC, yet legally inferior in standing when compared to the court-backed leadership of Prof. Chris Imumolen. This puts Governor Adeleke’s political move on shaky legal ground.
Analysts warn that this misalignment may carry serious political consequences. If unresolved, the discrepancy between the court-recognized leadership and the INEC-acknowledged faction may affect Governor Adeleke’s legitimacy within the Accord Party, potentially threatening his political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections.
For a governor seeking stability and a solid platform for re-election, joining a faction in defiance of a court ruling may prove to be a costly strategic error one capable of plaguing his hope of return to office in 2027 unless corrected promptly.
