The Accord Party chairman in Osun State, Victor Akande, has claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not appear on the ballot for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Akande made the statement on Wednesday in Osogbo during a media interactive programme, The Frontliners, organised by the Veteran Journalists Association in Osun State. He insisted that the PDP would be absent from the August 8, 2026 election and dismissed allegations of internal wrangling within the Accord Party.
“To the best of my knowledge, the umbrella (PDP logo) is not going to be on the ballot paper on August 8, 2026,” Akande said. He also addressed claims of a faction within the party, insisting that there has been no split. “Before Senator Ademola Adeleke joined our party, we never had any faction. Those who are claiming factions, where are their factions?” he added.
Akande, who is also the Osun State chairman of the Inter-party Advisory Council, highlighted the Accord Party’s track record in state and national elections, noting that the party has produced successful candidates, including former Governor Rashidi Ladoja and the current state governor, Ademola Adeleke. He said the party has set up a grassroots mobilisation committee to ensure widespread support for Adeleke’s reelection campaign.
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Reacting to Akande’s statement, PDP Osun Caretaker Secretary, Seyi Bamidele, described the claim as “a joke taken too far,” affirming that the PDP has met all requirements to contest the August 8 election. “Saying that a party that has structure across the board will not have a candidate in the gubernatorial election is false. The PDP will have a candidate and will be on the ballot,” Bamidele said.
The development comes after Adeleke emerged as the Accord Party governorship candidate on December 10, 2025, following a primary. Another faction of the party reportedly held a separate primary producing Clement Bamigbola as its candidate, but the national leadership of the Accord Party, led by Maxwell Mgbudem, confirmed Adeleke as the authentic candidate.
Prior to joining the Accord Party, Adeleke had resigned from the PDP a few hours before the party’s primary, in which Adebayo Adedamola was elected as its governorship flagbearer.