Accord Party Denies Backing Joint Presidential Ticket

 Accord Party Denies Backing Joint Presidential Ticket

By Fatima Muhammad

The national leadership of the Accord Party has distanced itself from reports linking it to a proposed opposition coalition aimed at presenting a single presidential candidate in the 2027 general election.

In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, described the inclusion of Accord in the reported Ibadan summit as misleading and unfair.

The clarification followed a high-profile political meeting held in Ibadan, Oyo State, where leaders from various opposition groups were said to have discussed the possibility of forming a united front to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.

The development has sparked debate within political circles, with increasing calls for opposition unity, even as the ruling party argues that such efforts may be premature due to internal divisions among opposition parties.

However, Omorogbe maintained that the Accord Party neither participated in nor endorsed any outcome from the meeting.

“Accord is not aware of the coalition meeting and did not send any representative, let alone endorse any resolutions, including the idea of presenting a joint presidential candidate in 2027,” he said.

He described it as inappropriate to associate the party with a coalition it had no involvement in.

The party also condemned the organisers of the summit for what it called a deliberate misrepresentation, accusing them of including Accord’s name despite the absence of its national leadership.

Omorogbe added that the leadership under Maxwell Mgbuden has officially dissociated itself from the Ibadan political gathering and cautioned politicians against actions that could create tension ahead of the 2027 elections.

While acknowledging that political parties have the right to form alliances, he stressed that such arrangements should involve only consenting parties.

“Accord is embarrassed by the actions of the organisers and demands that its name be removed immediately,” he stated.

He further noted that the party remains focused on upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as preparations for the 2027 general election, and will not be distracted by what he described as political distractions.

The situation highlights ongoing challenges within opposition coalition efforts, as discussions around a unified presidential ticket continue to evolve.