TEXT OF A WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE DELIVERED BY THE ACCORD NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, CHIEF MAXWELL MGBUDEM HELD AT THE PARTY’S NATIONAL SECRETARIAT, ABUJA ON FRIDAY, 7TH AUGUST 2026
Ladies and gentlemen of the Press
ACCORD COMMENDS PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU’S DIRECTIVE TO EFCC TO UNFREEZE THE OSUN STATE GOVERNMENT BANK ACCOUNT
… PARTY DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OF EFCC CHAIRMAN AND URGES THE PRESIDENT TO SACK HIM IF HE FAILS TO RESIGN HONOURABLY
… SAYS EFCC’S UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTION HAS BROUGHT THE NATION TO RIDICULE AND DISREPUTE BEFORE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
… PARTY DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF REMAINING PARTY MEMBERS DETAINED BY THE POLICE
… URGES OSUN PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR GOVERNOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE FOR CONTINUITY OF HIS TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP
… ENJOINS INEC TO CONDUCT A CREDIBLE ELECTION
I welcome you to this world press conference. Accord appreciates your professionalism in reporting national issues which helps to stabilise the nation’s democratic governance. You are all aware of the political situation in Osun State ahead of the 15th August 2026, governorship election.
For long, Osun State has been under a siege by anti-democratic forces fully backed by the State Police Command. Several Accord leaders, members and supporters have been killed, sustained gun shots wounds, arrested, harassed, intimidated, homes searched, offices of the Imole Campaign Council and state party attacked and billboards destroyed by well known thugs associated with the All Progressives Congress in the state, often in the presence of security agents. The party duly reported these lawless acts of the APC thugs to security agencies and even notified them in advance of planned attacks, yet no arrest was made and no attempt to protect the law abiding Accord members and other residents, a clear indication of collusion, compromise and partisanship in the ongoing electoral process in the state.
Just as the party heaved a sigh of relief that the Inspector General of Police responded to the public outcry to safeguard lives and property before, during and after the the gubernatorial by sending a new Commissioner of Police to oversee security in the state, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) struck on Wednesday, 5th August 2026, threw caution to the wind, overreach its statutory responsibilities, flagrantly violated the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, and abused its office with impunity by ordering the freeze of the Osun State Government Bank Account, thus further justifies the public apprehension of a calculated electoral capture of the state by the agents of the Federal Government in collaboration with the All Progressives Congress in the state which has vowed to make Osun ungovernable, weaken the administration of Senator Ademola Adeleke and seize power by electoral malpractices.
EFCC joined the Osun political fray hoping to succeed where the earlier compromised State Police Command failed by deliberately turning the law upside down to justify its unconstitutional action that threatened the foundations of the country’s emerging democracy. Sadly, an agency established by law is now operating above the law. In fact, it has become a law to itself, an aberration in a democracy.
Nigerians strongly condemned this assault on the nation’s constitutional governance. As a face-saving device, the anti-graft agency hastily gave reasons for its ignoble action that were flimsy, illegal, illogical, unconstitutional, irrational, incoherent and inconsistent with extant laws of the land.
To halt further descent into lawlessness, the Osun State Government, Accord national leadership and well-meaning Nigerians, political parties and civil society organisations appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Again, Accord, indeed, Nigerians were relieved that the president promptly responded stating that he was deeply embarrassed by the EFCC ill-conceived, ill-advised and misguided action, and ordered a reversal of the anti-graft agency’s directive to freeze the Osun State Government Account immediately.
Accord welcomes President Tinubu’s timely intervention in this critical national issue and urges security agencies, anti-graft commissions, electoral umpire and relevant democratic institutions to strictly abide by their rules of engagements, statutory duties and democratic ethics.
Having demonstrated unprecedented partisanship in the Osun State politics, assaulted the sensibilities of fellow compatriots and brought the nation to ridicule and disrepute before the international community, Accord has lost confidence in the current leadership of the EFCC.
Accordingly, Accord demands the immediate resignation of the EFCC chairman. For embarrassing the President, the Party, the Government and people of Osun State and fellow citizens. The EFCC chairman should toe the path of honour and tender his resignation. If he fails to resign, President Tinubu should sack him immediately to restore the integrity of the anti-graft agency. There should be no sacred cow in the quest to sanitise the anti-corruption commission in particular, and the democratic system in general.
Electoral contest is not a warfare. It should not be militarized by deploying federal apparatuses to suppress, subdue and oppress political opponents and their supporters to favour a party that has been rejected by the people.
Osun residents should be allowed to exercise their civic right, freedom and liberty to choose their governor. It is the beauty of representative governance.
Accord reiterates that it cannot bow to intimidation by reactionary forces that do not mean well for the people of Osun State. The state is an Accord stronghold. The people are in one accord with Governor Adeleke who has demonstrated exceptional capacity to govern the state and provide abundant dividends of democracy.
It was to abruptly stop Adeleke’s transformative leadership that an attempt was made by the so-called former legislators to use the court to de-register Accord, four other political parties were merely added to cover-up their hidden agenda. That was after paralyzing operations of the state’s local governments and withholding their federal allocations hoping it would bring down the government.
One after the other, the grand plot to destabilise the Accord government in Osun State failed woefully, and will continue to fail as the people stand with their performing, compassionate and visionary governor.
Having done well in his first term, Senator Ademola Adeleke deserves a second term to usher in a new, better, greater and prosperous Osun State.
The party urges the electorate to come out en masse on August 15 and vote for their amiable governor on the platform of Accord, and protect their votes. In this election, every vote must be counted and counts in the overall result. Stakeholders must uphold the sanctity of the ballot box.
The integrity of the election is essential for sustainable democracy in Nigeria as the last off-cycle governorship poll before the critical 2027 general election.
Accordingly, INEC should be at its best in conducting a free, fair, credible and inclusive gubernatorial election. The commission should put its act together and ensure that all electoral materials are adequately test-run to avoid glitches and hitches. There should be no excuse whatsoever for poor performance, bearing in mind the political tension in the state, expectations of the people and the activities of anti-democratic elements that want to foist an unpopular candidate on the people.
Accord calls on the international community, civil society organizations, election observer missions, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the media, development partners, well-meaning Nigerians, opposition political parties, and all citizens of Osun State to rise in defense of democracy by speaking out against any conduct capable of undermining the credibility of the forthcoming governorship election.
The party further urges all stakeholders to demand and insist on a free, fair, credible, transparent, and peaceful electoral process that reflects the true will of the people. The election must be conducted in an atmosphere devoid of violence, intimidation, harassment, unlawful interference by security agencies, manipulation, abuse of state institutions, voter suppression, and vote-buying.
Security agencies must remain professional, impartial, and guided strictly by the Constitution and the Electoral Act. Their constitutional responsibility is to protect lives, maintain law and order, and provide a secure environment for voters, not to intimidate, harass, or influence the electoral process in favour of any political party or candidate.
The people of Osun State deserve nothing less than an election whose outcome genuinely reflects their freely expressed democratic choice.
Accord equally calls on all relevant authorities to uphold the rule of law, protect the sanctity of the ballot, and ensure that the democratic rights of every eligible voter are fully respected.
It is obvious that the whole world is watching the electoral management body to do the right things and make Nigeria proud, thus, further consolidate our hard earned democracy.
Once more, the party commends President Tinubu for his patriotic intervention in resolving the EFCC’s mess, further appeals to Mr President and the Inspector General of Police to release the remaining 60 Accord members detained by the Police in Abuja, Osun and Nasarawa States, and provide adequate security for the governorship election. The immediate release of these detainees is the best way to calm the unfortunate political tension in the state.
Accord is ready and prepared for the governorship election and will emerge victorious having fulfilled its campaign promises to the people in spite of the activities of detractors to frustrate Adeleke’s government.
Together, we will make it happen.
Accord: Oneness & Progress!
