The national chairman of a faction of the Accord Party and the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Prof. Christopher Imumolen, on Thursday attended the All Progressives Congress (APC) mega rally in Osogbo, Osun State, where he declared support for the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, ahead of Saturday’s election.
Imumolen announced that his faction had withdrawn its support for Governor Ademola Adeleke and endorsed the APC candidate, just two days before the August 15 governorship poll.
Speaking at the rally, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who represented President Bola Tinubu, said the Accord Party had aligned with the APC.
“According to the information available to me, the Accord Party has thrown in the towel and has decided to support our candidate,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President conveyed Tinubu’s goodwill to the people of Osun State and assured them of adequate security during the election.
In a symbolic show of support, Imumolen removed the yellow cap associated with the Accord Party and replaced it with an APC cap.
“As the National Chairman of the Accord Party, we have withdrawn our support for Ademola Adeleke, and today, we declare our support for AMBO (Oyebamiji), ” he said.
“On Saturday, all Accord members in Osun State should go to their polling units and vote for AMBO. By August 15, AMBO will emerge as the governor of Osun State.”
“Feel free to come out and vote for the candidate of your choice,” he said, adding that the state needed to be “linked with the government at the centre.”
Imumolen had, on August 7, formally withdrawn from the 2027 presidential race and endorsed Tinubu for a second term, saying the president’s reforms, leadership and growing nationwide support positioned him strongly for re-election.
Also addressing the rally, Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, urged APC supporters to remain steadfast and vote massively for Oyebamiji.
The Kwara governor cautioned party members against engaging in violence before, during and after the election.
In his address, Oyebamiji promised an inclusive administration if elected.
“The APC government that will be elected on August 15, 2026, will be a government of the people, by the people and for the people. There is no more dancing. I have a mandate with you, and that mandate is to touch the lives of the people of Osun,” he said.
Among those who attended the rally were APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; former Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole; former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola; and former APC National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
