By John Dike, Osogbo
Four days after Governor Ademola Adeleke was declared the official candidate of Accord Party in the coming governorship election in the state, a faction of the party has elected Clement Bamigbola as its governorship candidate for the same election,
On Wednesday, December 10, Adeleke had emerged as the Accord Party’s gubernatorial candidate for the 2026 Osun State election. He was the sole aspirant during the party’s official primary exercise.
However, a faction of the party disputed Adeleke’s emergence, questioning the legitimacy of Barrister Maxwell Ngbudem as the party’s national chairman.
On Sunday, December 14, 2025, approximately 300 delegates from across Osun State, representing the faction, held a separate primary at Regina Suite, Osogbo where Clement Bamigbola was elected the factional candidate via a voice vote.
The Chairman of the Primary Committee, Hon. Olufemi Ogundare, officially declared Bamigbola as the party’s candidate.
Following the announcement, Ogundare and other party officials formally presented the party’s flag to Bamigbola, signaling his readiness for the 2026 contest.
It was gathered that a factional leadership of the Accord Party on Sunday elected Mr. Clement Bamigbola as its governorship candidate, barely four days after Governor Ademola Adeleke was announced as the party’s official flagbearer.
The development has further exposed deep internal divisions within the party, raising concerns about its cohesion ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
It will be recalled that on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Governor Ademola Adeleke emerged as the Accord Party’s governorship candidate after being the sole aspirant in the party’s official primary election.
However, a faction of the party rejected Adeleke’s emergence, disputing the legitimacy of Barrister Maxwell Ngbudem as the nationally recognised chairman of the Accord Party.
In a fresh development on Sunday, December 14, 2025, about 300 delegates from across Osun State, representing the faction, conducted a separate primary election at Regina Suite, Osogbo, where Clement Bamigbola emerged as the factional candidate through a voice vote.
The Chairman of the Primary Committee, Hon. Olufemi Ogundare, formally declared Bamigbola as the party’s candidate for the 2026 governorship election.
Following his declaration, Ogundare and other party leaders presented the party’s flag to Bamigbola, signalling his readiness to contest the election.
With this development, the Accord Party is now clearly divided into two factions, each laying claim to legitimacy in the 2026 Osun governorship race.
Political analysts warn that the internal crisis could weaken the party’s electoral prospects, potentially benefiting rival parties such as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the election approaches.
