The Accord Party (AP) has expelled its 2023 Presidential candidate, Prof. Christopher Imumolen, along with seven other members, for allegedly violating the party’s constitution.

The expelled members include 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).

The decision was announced in a communiqué issued after the National Executive Committee meeting, signed by the National Chairman, Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem and National Secretary, Adebukola A. Ajaja.

Additionally, the party suspended Salimu Lawal Boyi (Katsina State Chairman), Fatima Mohammed Zarumi (Acting Yobe State Chairman), and Abdullahi Isa Kasowa (Bauchi State Chairman) for violating Article 20A (vii), (ix), (xiii), and 20A (1) of the party’s constitution.

The NEC of the party adopted the report of its 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 the members.

They were accused of causing 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.

The NEC however passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of Barrister Maxwell Mgbudem as the authentic National Chairman of Accord and urged him to remain focused in rebuilding, rebranding and strengthening the party to meet the needs and expectations of citizens for a better Nigeria.

The NEC commended his visionary, purposeful, resourceful, innovative, vibrant and progressive leadership that will take Accord to the next level.

The communiqué said: “NEC welcomed back members who were misled by the expelled former presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Professor Christopher Imumolen who instigated a rebellion against the leadership of the party with a view to destabilising 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.

“Accord has commenced massive membership drive aimed at repositioning the party as a major stakeholder in the democratic process and urged every member to be a good Ambassador of our great party in the quest for sustainable democracy and development in the country,” it added.(The Nation)

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