Accord occasion faction strikes to halt Osun governorship primaries

A faction of the Accord Party has launched a authorized motion earlier than the Excessive Court docket of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, looking for to void the occasion’s forthcoming Osun State governorship primaries and to affirm the suspension of the occasion’s Nationwide Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem.

The swimsuit, filed on December 3, 2025 and marked FCT/CV/4955/2025, was instituted by Oliver Bitrus, who listed the Accord Party, Mgbudem and the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee as the primary, second and third defendants.

Bitrus, represented by counsel, Daniel Edeachi, contends that Mgbudem and his deputy, Chief Okey Nwosu, had been duly suspended by a faction of the occasion over alleged anti-party actions.

Including that the faction subsequently appointed Prof. Chris Imumolen as a substitute, counting on a Federal Excessive Court docket judgment they declare recognises him because the lawful nationwide chief.

Within the originating summons, the claimant is asking the court docket to nullify all statutory notices issued within the title of the Accord Party, together with the discover of ward congress and first for the Osun governorship election.

He additionally seeks an order voiding the acceptance or publication of any candidate submitted to INEC by Mgbudem or any particular person apart from himself, asserting that he’s the lawful performing Nationwide Chairman.

Bitrus additional seeks a perpetual injunction restraining Mgbudem from parading himself as Nationwide Chairman or performing duties of that workplace pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings in opposition to him.

He’s equally urging the court docket to bar INEC from recognising Mgbudem or accepting any major elections carried out by him.

Among the many declarations sought, Bitrus argues that beneath Part 223 of the 1999 Structure (as amended), Sections 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act 2022, and related provisions of the Accord Party Structure, a suspended nationwide chairman can not signal statutory notices, summon conferences or represent committees on behalf of the occasion.

He additionally asks the court docket to find out whether or not, in gentle of his nomination by the Nationwide Government Committee on November 29, 2025 to behave as Nationwide Chairman, it’s lawful and constitutional for him to occupy the place pending the conclusion of the disciplinary course of or election of a brand new chairman.

The swimsuit additionally raises questions relating to INEC’s energy to just accept or recognise any motion taken by Mgbudem whereas beneath suspension, together with statutory notices referring to the Osun governorship primaries or another election.

“A declaration that upon the group studying of the provisions of Part 223 (1) and (2) of the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended), Part 82 (1), and 84(1), (2) and (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as Amended) and Articles 18(1), and 20 (b) & (c) , of the Structure of the occasion, the three” defendant can not settle for, acknowledge, sanction and/or cognizance any motion of the suspended 2nd defendant pending the dedication of the disciplinary motion in opposition to him.

“A declaration that in view of the emptiness created by the suspension of the Nationwide Chairman of the occasion by the Nationwide Government Committee of the Party at its assembly held on 29″ day of November 2025 and the claimant having been nominated by the Nationwide Government Committee, to behave as Performing Nationwide Chairman of the Accord Party,” the doc learn.

The swimsuit posed the next questions for the dedication of the court docket:

“Whether or not upon a relaxed and group studying of the provisions of Part 223 (1) and (2) of the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended), Part 82 (1), and 84(1), (2) and (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as Amended) and Articles 18(1), and 20 (b) & (c), of the Structure of the Accord Party, vis a vis the suspension of the Nationwide chairman of the Party (the 2nd Defendant) , the 2nd -4th defendant can validly signal any discover on behalf of the occasion, represent any committee within the title of the occasion, summon and preside over any assembly of the first defendant till the conclusion of the disciplinary motion in opposition to him?

“Whether or not upon the group studying of the provisions of Part 223 (1) and (2) of the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended), Part 82 (1), and 84(1), (2) and (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as Amended) and Articles 18(1), and 20 (b) & (c), of the Structure of the occasion, the three% defendant can settle for, acknowledge, sanction and/or cognizance any motion of the suspended 2nd defendant pending the dedication of the disciplinary motion?

“Whether or not in view of the decision of Nationwide Government Committee dated twenty ninth day of November, 2025 whereby the Claimant is appointed to behave because the Nationwide Chairman pending the conclusion of the disciplinary motion in opposition to the two? defendant, it’s not lawful, constitutional and legitimate for the Claimant being to carry the place of the Performing Nationwide Chairman of the Party pending the conclusion of the disciplinary motion in opposition to the 2nd defendant or pending the election of a brand new nationwide chairman.

“Whether or not upon the group studying of Part 223 (1) and (2) of the Structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended), Part 82 (1), and 84(1), (2) and (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as Amended) and Articles 18(1), and 20 (b) & (c) , of the Structure of the occasion, the issuance of any statutory notices, significantly the Discover of Ward Congress for the Osun State Governorship election and the Discover of major, in as far as they relate or pertain to the conduct of the governorship primaries of the occasion for the Osun State Governorship election or another election in any occasion,” it reads.

The court docket is but to repair a date for the listening to.