Accord Disowns Mgbudem Suspension As National Chair

The national leadership of Accord has dismissed as “laughable” the reported suspension of its national chairman, Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, allegedly announced by the party’s expelled former presidential candidate, Prof. Chris Imumolen.

In a statement by the national publicity secretary Joseph Omorogbe, Accord described Imumolen’s latest move as “a joke taken too far” and “a jamboree staged in Keffi with non-members of the party to massage his fallen political ego.”

Accord stated that Imumolen lacked the authority to convene any meeting or announce disciplinary actions, insisting he is no longer a member of the party following his expulsion by the National Executive Committee (NEC) on November 20, 2024.

The party noted that Imumolen never challenged his expulsion and that his lawsuit at the FCT High Court—filed alongside 13 others—was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. According to Accord, this confirms his continued exclusion from the party.

Citing the ruling delivered on July 17, 2025, by Justice Fatima A. Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Accord highlighted the court’s position that the matter constituted a non-justiciable intra-party dispute and did not fall within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court.

Justice Aliyu ruled: “From the totality of the issues and authorities considered, it is clear that the subject matter of this suit pertains to a non-justiciable intra-party leadership dispute… the Preliminary Objection succeeds. This suit is accordingly struck out for want of jurisdiction.”

The court further held that all interim orders previously issued in the case were nullified by the decision.

Reaffirming the status of Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, Accord stressed that he remains the party’s duly recognised national chairman, as confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Commission’s official website.

“All members of the party are in one accord and will not be distracted by the activities of expelled individuals and their sponsors whose only intention is to destabilise the Accord ahead of the 2027 general election,” the statement added.

The party advised Nigerians to disregard Imumolen’s claims, describing his actions as “political ranting” aimed at generating cheap publicity and misleading unsuspecting members of the public.

Accord stated that the Keffi event organised by Imumolen had no constitutional basis in the party and did not involve legitimate stakeholders.

According to the national publicity secretary Joseph Omorogbe, Accord under Mgbudem’s leadership has been “reorganised and repositioned as a formidable progressive mass movement” ahead of the next general election.

The statement urged members and the public to remain focused on the party’s mission for a “better, greater, and prosperous democratic nation.”