ABUJA – National Chairman of Accord Party, Maxwell Mgbudem, on Wednesday described as a “minor distraction,” moves by its presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Prof Christopher Imumolen, to take over the party’s leadership.
The action which led to an ex parte order in Imumolen’s favour by a Federal Capital Territory High Court, has however since been vacated by a contrasting order by Justice M.M. Adamu in a suit No..FCT/HC/M/11850/2024.
Adressing journalists during the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Mgbudem said the situation was an abortive coup driven by the inordinate ambition of the former presidential candidate against the authentic leadership of the party.
Wednesday’s meeting was the party’s first major NWC gathering after the national convention on 28th July, 2024, where it elected new officers.
He continued, “You are probably aware of the unnecessary minor distraction we had recently in the leadership of our great party, when our presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Prof Christopher Imumolen arrogated to himself the position of National Chairman of the Party, assigned other offices to his co-travelers and misled an FCT High Court to grant an ex parte order in his favour which naturally expired after seven days.”
He alleged that the sponsors of the party’s former flagbearer are threatened by the increasing popularity of Accord Party among the Nigerian populace.
“Promptly, the leadership of the party filed Motion No..FCT/HC/M/11850/2024 dated 2nd September 2024, on the matter. On 4th September 2024, Justice M. M. Adamu ordered that status quo be maintained pending the outcome of the motion on notice,” he explained.
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“It shall be noted that interim orders lapse after seven days, from there the court ordered for a status quo to be maintained pending the outcome of the Motion on Notice.
“The court also ordered Prof Christopher Imumolen and his co-travelers (2nd to 15th Defendants/Applicants) to vacate the premises of the 1st Claimant (Accord Party) which they forcefully took over on Saturday, 31st August 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice No. M/11962/2024 and Notice of Preliminary Objection already filed and served.
“With these clear and unambiguous orders of the court, Prof Christopher Imumolen and his co-travelers were ejected out of the Party National Secretariat, which they forcefully entered.
“Today, it is instructive to inform persons misled by the unfortunate event that the authentic leadership of the party is led by Barrister Maxwell Mgbudem as National Chairman and is absolutely in control of our great party.
“We are happy to inform Nigerians that this minor distraction in the affairs of our great party is over. We remain focused to refocus our party to win future elections. It is time to work together and build a better, greater and stronger Accord,” Mgbudem said.
He also expressed optimism that the party “will win the Edo gubernatorial election this Saturday”.
“We urge eligible voters in the state to come out en masse and vote for Accord,” he added.
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to provide a level playing field to all the political parties and their candidates participating in the election.
