From Okwe Obi, Abuja

The Accord Party has announced the expulsion of its former presidential candidate, Christopher Imumolen; Lanre Ogundare, Lagos State Chairman; Surajo Ibrahim, Zamfara State Chairman; Muktar Abdalla, Borno State Chairman; Abiola Samuel Odeoba, former Ekiti State Chairman; Dr Falaye Ajibola, former Ondo State Chairman; Adebisi Wale Ganiy; and Dzingina Jacob Ephraim, Nasarawa State Chairman, for alleged anti-party activities.

In the same vein, it suspended Salimu Lawal Boyi, Katsina State Chairman; Fatima Mohammed Zarumi, Acting Yobe State Chairman; and Abdullahi Isa Kasowa, Bauchi State Chairman, for the same offence.

The party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, and Secretary, Adebukola A. Ajaja, made this known in a communiqué after the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting yesterday in Abuja.

Members of the Disciplinary Committee are Emeka Uwakolam (Chairman), Bishop Benson Ijachi (Secretary), Gabriel Almond Kubua, Yusuf A. Training, Hassan Bello, Hon. Ndubuisi Paschal Ani, and Adeniyi A. Philip.

They instructed the expelled members to vacate the Accord National Secretariat to avoid further sanctions.

The communiqué read in part: “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.

“Accordingly, NEC expelled eight members and suspended three others for violating Article 20A (vii), (ix), (xiii), and 20A (i) of the party constitution.

“Those expelled from the party are Professor Christopher Imumolen, former presidential candidate; Comrade Lanre Ogundare, Lagos State Chairman; Surajo Ibrahim, Zamfara State Chairman; Muktar Abdalla, Borno State Chairman; Chief Abiola Samuel Odeoba, former Ekiti State Chairman; Dr Falaye Ajibola, former Ondo State Chairman; Prince Adebisi Wale Ganiy; and Dzingina Jacob Ephraim, Nasarawa State Chairman.

“Members suspended are Salimu Lawal Boyi, Katsina State Chairman; Fatima Mohammed Zarumi, Acting Yobe State Chairman; and Abdullahi Isa Kasowa, Bauchi State Chairman.

“NEC emphasised the 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.”

According to the communiqué, “the NEC passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of Barrister Maxwell Mgbudem as the authentic National Chairman of Accord and urged him to remain focused on rebuilding, rebranding, and strengthening the party to meet the needs and expectations of citizens for a better Nigeria.

“INEC and stakeholders in the democratic process have been relating with Barrister Mgbudem as the duly elected national chairman of our great party. NEC commended his visionary, purposeful, resourceful, innovative, vibrant, and progressive leadership that will take Accord to the next level.

“NEC welcomed back members who were misled by the expelled former presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Professor Christopher Imumolen, who instigated a rebellion against the leadership of the party with a view to destabilising it and bringing it to ridicule, disrepute, and disaffection amongst loyal party members in particular and Nigerians in general.

“NEC urged members to remain in one Accord, as there is no faction in the party, noting that the court has since vacated the interim order Professor Imumolen surreptitiously obtained, which naturally expired after seven days, as ruled by the presiding judge, Justice M. M. Adamu of the FCT High Court on 4th September 2024. He also ordered the intruders to vacate the party national secretariat, which they forcefully took over on Saturday, 31st August 2024.”