The Accord Party has dismissed as futile the recent protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by its 2023 presidential candidate, Prof. Christopher Imumolen, who demanded to be recognized as the party’s chairman.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the party described Imumolen as a political opportunist seeking personal gain. National Chairman, Barr. Maxwell Mgbuden, said the protest was merely an attempt to attract cheap publicity and mislead the public by fabricating a non-existent leadership crisis within the party.
On April 21, 2026, Imumolen whom the party says has been expelled staged a protest at INEC headquarters in Abuja, insisting on being acknowledged as chairman.
Accord, however, maintained that there is no court order supporting his claim and no internal leadership dispute. The party stated that if such an order existed, Imumolen would have presented it, rather than displaying placards during the protest. It further alleged that he failed to provide any evidence to journalists, describing his claims as baseless and imaginary.
Mgbuden explained that the document Imumolen refers to as a court order was actually an ex parte order he obtained from an FCT High Court on August 3, 2024, which he allegedly used to impose himself as chairman. He added that Imumolen subsequently forced entry into the party’s national secretariat on August 31, 2024, prompting the party leadership to file Motion No. M/11943/2024 to overturn what it described as a fraudulently obtained order.
He noted that on September 2, 2024, Justice M. M. Adamu of the FCT High Court Vacation Court 3 ruled that interim orders lapse after seven days and directed that the status quo be maintained pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The party advised Nigerians, especially those seeking to contest elections under its platform, to be cautious of Imumolen. It emphasized that there is no faction within Accord and that members remain united.
Accord also distanced itself from the protest at INEC headquarters, stating that it was unauthorized and did not reflect the party’s position. The party concluded that it would not continue to engage with what it described as the actions of a failed politician.