By Abubakar Yunusa
The Accord party in Nigeria has elected Maxwell Mgbudem as the National Chairman of its Caretaker Committee for the next six months as Mohammed Nalado bows out as National Chairman of the party on Friday.
Mr. Mgbudem who was elected as the National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party at the National Executive Committee meeting held in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Nigeria’s capital on Friday.
The outgone National Chairman Mr. Mohammed Nalado said he was committed to the party’s progress and national development.
Nalado-led National Working Committee of the party was dissolved at the National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting after serving out its tenure.
Other members of the new caretaker committee include Adebukola Ajaja as National Secretary, and Yusuf Saulawa as National Treasurer.
Also elected were Hassan Bello as National Financial Secretary, Ibe ThankGod as National Organising Secretary, Omoregie Solomon as National Publicity Secretary, and Garba Mohammed as National Auditor.
In his acceptance remarks, Mgbudem described his emergence as a bold struggle towards liberating the party.
He pledged to work with all the members of the party to reposition the party and the development of Nigeria.
Mr. Mgbudem said: “A political party is the foundation for the nation’s democracy” and that “once you get it right, the nation will be better for it.”
“Get the leadership of political parties right, get their managers to obey the rule of law and it will spread to the larger society.” He said.
He noted that “When we have men and women that are conscious of the provisions of the constitution, desirous of making the political party work and for the rule of law to prevail, it will help the society.”
“Through the men of integrity and capacity so elected, we will be at the helm of affairs of the society.” And that “the problem we are having today is that a lot of party leaders have commercialised politics,” he said.
He further said that “today we want to tell the world that Accord is a party desirous of building the new cradle that will help in rebuilding the nation.”
He noted that “Our election is not to come and relax but to work to build a new Accord party, which will build the nation.”
The new national caretaker committee chairman of the party also charged leaders of the party at the states, local governments and ward levels to work together in reconciling aggrieved members of the party.
He said “the new leaders of the party would take the future elections, especially the forthcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States, seriously.”
“This is not the time to relax or sleep.”
“Accord must produce governors, members of the National Assembly, State Assemblies and even the president.” he said.
The outgone National Chairman commended the party members and leaders for giving him the opportunity to serve over the years.
Mr. Nalado said that during his tenure as the chairman of the party, he recorded numerous achievements, including election victories.
This, according to him, made it impossible for the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister Accord when it deregistered 74 other parties in 2020.
Nalado said that under his watch, Accord also played a key role in the leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council at the national level, where he was elected national chairman of the council for two terms
He promised that while he is out of office, he would be available to support the new leadership of the party to succeed.
He pledged to continue to support the development of the party whenever he is called upon to do so.
