Accord Party expels former presidential candidate over ‘gross misconduct’

The Accord Party (AP) has expelled Christopher Imumolen, its standard-bearer in the 2023 presidential election, over alleged gross misconduct.

The national executive committee (NEC) passed the resolution during its meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday.

The NEC also expelled seven state chairpersons—Lanre Ogundare (Lagos), Surajo Ibrahim (Zamfara), Muktar Abdalla (Borno), and Dzingina Ephraim (Nasarawa)—from the party.

Others are Salimu Boyi (Katsina), Fatima Zarumi (Yobe), and Abdullahi Kasowa (Bauchi).

The party also dismissed Abiola Odeoba, a former Ekiti chairman; Falaye Ajibola, an ex-Ondo chair; and Adebisi Ganiy.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the NEC adopted the recommendation of a seven-member disciplinary committee set up to investigate alleged gross misconduct of the party officials.

The communiqué was signed by Maxwell Mgbudem, national chairman, and Adebukola Ajaja, national secretary.

“NEC unanimously approved, upheld, and endorsed the disciplinary measures against some members of the party for gross misconduct, anti-party activities, factionalising the party, bringing it to ridicule, disrepute, disaffection, and breaches of its constitution,” the communiqué reads.

The NEC said the disciplined members violated Article 20A (vii), (ix), (xiii), and 20A (1) of the party constitution.

The executive committee said there is a need to “maintain decorum within the party to avoid a state of anarchy and lawlessness, highlighting the need to preserve the party’s constitution and its adherence, which is not just expedient but mandatory as the party is supreme”.

The NEC passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of Mgbudem, urging him to remain focused on “rebuilding, rebranding, and strengthening the party to meet the needs and expectations of citizens for a better Nigeria”.

The executive committee welcomed back members suspended and expelled under the then leadership of Imumolen.

The NEC advised members to be united, saying the party has commenced a “massive membership drive” aimed at repositioning the party as a major stakeholder in the democratic process.