The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed awareness of the primary election held by factional members of the Accord Party ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship election.
INEC reiterated that the party’s primaries which was held last week Wednesday with the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, emerging as the party’s candidate, remains the only recognised and documented primaries held by Accord.
NPO Reported that Adeleke who defected to the Accord Party earlier this month after the leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had secured the governorship ticket of the party ahead of his bid for re-election.
However, a faction of the party would on Sunday conduct another primary election that produced Bamigbola Clement as its candidate for the August 8, 2026, governorship poll.
According to reports, the exercise, held in Osogbo, the state capital, began with the accreditation of delegates.
It was monitored by a large contingent of armed police operatives was also observed around the venue.
Reacting to the development, INEC’s Public Relations Officers, Musa Olurode, said the commission was not informed of another primary reportedly conducted by a faction of the Accord Party in the state.
Olurode held that the only Accord primaries monitored by INEC was the one which declared Adeleke as its candidate, stressing that the commission was unaware of the parallel exercise.
“We have monitored the only Accord Party primary a few days ago. The report has been submitted. INEC is not aware of any other party’s primary,” Olurode said.