Accord Party expels ex-presidential candidate, others from party

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Accord Party (AP) National Executive Committee, (NEC) has approved the expulsion and suspension of some members of the party.
This was contained in a communique read out by Maxwell Mgbudem, its National Chairman and Adebukola A. Ajaja, National Secretary after a meeting held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja yesterday.
The NEC deliberated on the report of the 7-man Disciplinary Committee set up by the National Working Committee, (NWC), to investigate alleged gross misconduct, anti-party activities and breaches of the party’s constitution against some members.
“Accordingly, NEC expelled eight members and suspended three others for violating Article 20A (vii), (ix), (xiii), and 20A (1) of the party constitution,” the communique said.
“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.”
The NEC emphasized the need to maintain decorum within the party, which, according to the party is 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.
It also passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of Maxwell Mgbudem as the authentic National Chairman.
The NEC said it welcomed back members who were misled by the expelled former presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Professor Christopher Imumolen, who allegedly instigated a rebellion against the leadership of the party to destabilise it and bring 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, where he also ordered the intruders to vacate the party national secretariat which they forcefully took over on Saturday, 31st August 2024.”
“The expelled members vacated Accord National Secretariat immediately which brought their plot to destabilize the party to an end.”
Peoples Daily reports that members of the Disciplinary Committee are Emeka Uwakolam – Chairman, Bishop Benson Ijachi – Secretary, Gabriel Almond Kubua, Yusuf A. Training, Hassan Bello, Ndubuisi Paschal Ani and Adeniyi A. Philip.