Adeleke
A chieftain of the Accord Party in Lagos State, Israel Jagunmolu, has predicted defeat for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke in the forthcoming governorship election, citing the ongoing leadership dispute within the party as one of the factors that could affect his political future.
Jagunmolu, in a statement, said Adeleke could either lose at the polls or face defeat through the ongoing legal battle over the leadership of the Accord Party.
He said the prediction was based on the position of Prof. Chris Imumolen, whom he described as the factional National Chairman of the Accord Party, adding that Imumolen remained confident that Adeleke would not secure victory in the election.
Jagunmolu said Imumolen’s position was that even if Adeleke won at the polls, the ongoing legal dispute over the leadership of the Accord Party could ultimately affect him in court.
According to Jagunmolu, the leadership dispute has resulted in legal proceedings involving rival factions of the party, with the matter, following proceedings at the Court of Appeal, now before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
He said the case centred on the leadership and structure of the party and the authority of the respective factions to exercise its political mandate.
Jagunmolu added that Imumolen remained confident that the court would rule in favour of his faction and said the faction was expecting victory in the judgment.
The Accord chieftain said the outcome of the legal proceedings could have implications for the political contest, insisting that Adeleke’s alleged vulnerability extended beyond the ballot box.
He urged Osun voters to consider the wider political and legal issues surrounding the election before casting their ballots.
Jagunmolu maintained that the unfolding political contest in Osun would ultimately be determined by developments at both the polls and in the courts.
(Vanguard)
