Accord Endorses Adeleke for Second Term, Cautions INEC Ahead of Osun Governorship Poll

Osogbo — August 3, 2026 | AccordWatch

Accord Endorses Adeleke for Second Term, Cautions INEC Ahead of Osun Governorship Poll

The national leadership of the Accord Party has formally endorsed Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke for a second term, urging voters to return him in the August 15 governorship election while putting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on notice over the need for a credible poll.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday and signed by National Chairman Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, the party said Governor Adeleke's record in office had earned him the mandate for continuity, citing what it described as achievements in infrastructure, education, healthcare, security, and workers' welfare as the basis for a projected landslide victory on August 15.

The party praised the Governor for what it called resilience and administrative capacity in the face of efforts by opponents to frustrate his administration — including, it alleged, the withholding of local government allocations — arguing that his leadership had nonetheless sustained political stability and accelerated development across the state.

Accord appealed to Osun residents to turn out in large numbers on election day, describing the poll as a chance to consolidate the gains of the Governor's tenure and ensure the continued delivery of democratic dividends to the state. The party also cautioned voters against selling their votes, describing vote buying and inducements as a betrayal of Osun's future and urging citizens to reject what it called "electoral porridge" in all its forms.

Turning to the conduct of the election, Accord called on INEC and security agencies to remain strictly neutral, impartial, and professional throughout the process, stressing that the credibility of the outcome depends on the sanctity of the ballot box and respect for the will of voters. It insisted that every valid vote must be accurately reflected in the final results and warned against any conduct that could erode public confidence in the process.

The party described the Osun poll as a critical test of INEC's readiness for the 2027 general elections, arguing that the Commission has had ample time to prepare and must deliver a free, fair, transparent, and inclusive exercise without operational failures. It added that the outcome of the election would significantly shape public trust in Nigeria's electoral system, describing it as another opportunity for INEC to strengthen its credibility by conducting a poll that genuinely reflects the will of the people.