Key stakeholders of the Accord Party in the South-West on Sunday reaffirmed the candidacy of Governor Ademola Adeleke for the 2026 Osun governorship election.

The stakeholders stated this in a communique issued at the end of their emergency meeting on Sunday in Ibadan. The communique was read by the party’s national vice-chairman, South-West, Paul Igbinsola. They insisted that the governorship primary that produced Mr Adeleke on Wednesday in Osogbo remained valid.

The communique said that the two warring factions under the national leadership of John Adeniyi and Nduibem Maxwell had endorsed Mr Adeleke for the governorship election.

“We have met, resolved our differences and agreed to collectively support the candidacy of Ademola Adeleke to fly the ticket of the Accord party. We have buried the hatchet and united behind Adeleke’s candidacy,” the stakeholders said.

They stated that this was recognition that it was an emergency decision requiring the immediate convening of all stakeholders.

“As a result of Adeleke’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to Accord and in line with our party’s constitution, Adeleke has automatically become our national leader. Today, we have formally endorsed and approved him as the national leader of our party,” the communique said.

The stakeholders, however, disowned Segun Fanibe, a former party chairman in Osun from 2016 to 2018. They stated that he had left Accord for the All Progressives Congress and had, therefore, ceased to be a member of the party.

“He is no longer associated with the party in any capacity. All factions within the party across the South-West zone and at the national level have unanimously endorsed Ademola Adeleke as our candidate and national leader. In view of this development, any kangaroo primary organised by Fanibe is null and void,” the communique said.

(NAN)