Accord Slams Lawmaker Over Deregistration Threat

The political atmosphere in Osun State has taken a sharp turn toward high-stakes legal and partisan maneuvering following a controversial demand for the deregistration of the Accord party. At the heart of the storm is Wole Oke, a prominent member of the House of Representatives, whose social media post calling for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to dissolve the party has drawn a fierce and immediate rebuttal from its leadership.

Oke, who represents the Obokun–Oriade Federal Constituency, stirred the hornet’s nest by suggesting that Accord lacks the performance credentials required to maintain its status as a registered political entity. Citing sections of the Electoral Act 2022, the lawmaker argued that the party has failed to win significant elective offices, thereby making it a candidate for administrative pruning by the electoral umpire.

The Osun State chapter of Accord was quick to categorize the lawmaker’s comments as more than just a legislative opinion. In a sternly worded statement issued by the State Chairman, Pastor Victor Akande, the party described the call as a “calculated attempt” to mislead INEC into taking unlawful action. According to Akande, the timing and nature of the attack suggest a deeper motive: a desire to sabotage the political future of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

The friction between the lawmaker and the party is amplified by the massive political realignment currently reshaping the state. Governor Adeleke, who recently navigated a high-profile exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) due to internal leadership crises at the national level, has cast his lot with Accord for his 2026 re-election bid. This move has transformed Accord from a fringe player into a central vehicle for the state’s executive power, a shift that has clearly unsettled traditional political rivals.

Accord’s leadership maintains that Oke’s legal arguments are fundamentally flawed and “unfounded.” They assert that the party is not only fully compliant with all constitutional and statutory requirements but has also consistently participated in the democratic process across the federation. By framing the deregistration call as an attempt to block Adeleke from the 2026 ballot, the party is positioning itself as a victim of desperate opposition tactics.

The party’s defense also took on a personal tone, with Akande advising Oke to redirect his energy toward his primary duties. The chairman suggested that the lawmaker should focus on delivering the dividends of democracy to his constituents in the Ijesa South region rather than meddling in the registration status of competing political organizations. This “mind your business” approach highlights the growing rift between the newly formed Adeleke-Accord alliance and the PDP loyalists who remain in the lawmaker’s camp.

Supporters of the party in Osun have been urged to remain calm and unfazed by what the leadership calls a “campaign of distraction.” The statement emphasized that the party remains “solidly registered and legally grounded,” urging the rank and file to stay focused on the 2026 electoral objectives rather than being unsettled by social media graphics and legislative posturing.

The controversy underscores the fragility of political alliances as the August 8, 2026, governorship election draws nearer. For Accord, the influx of the “Adeleke factor” provides a surge in relevance but also makes it a prime target for legal challenges aimed at stripping away its platform. The party has promised a more robust and “appropriate response” at the right time, suggesting that this verbal exchange is merely the opening salvo of a long legal and political battle.

As the debate over the interpretation of the Electoral Act continues, the focus remains on INEC’s response. While the commission has the power to deregister non-performing parties, the addition of a sitting governor to Accord’s ranks complicates the “performance” metric significantly. For now, the battle for Osun’s future is being fought in the court of public opinion, with both sides digging in for a protracted struggle over the legitimacy of the ballot.