A leadership dispute is intensifying within the Oyo State chapter of the Accord party, as two individuals are now asserting themselves as the rightful governorship candidate for the 2027 elections.
According to sources speaking to our correspondent on Tuesday, both Mr. Olakunle Busari and Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat emerged from separate primary elections held by the party in the state. Each candidate is currently parading as the flagbearer, a situation that threatens to deepen the internal rift.
Busari’s camp claims he emerged victorious in a primary that was supervised by the party’s National Secretary, Mrs. Adebukola Ajaja, alongside officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by Engineer Olugbenga Keshinro, and other key stakeholders including Prince Adewale Adeyemo and Mr. Olaide Mobolade. The returning officer for that exercise, Olayinka Dairo, announced that Busari secured 29,427 votes, defeating his rivals Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat (18,716 votes) and Fatai Owoseni (11,922 votes).
However, in a conflicting development, Hamzat was also declared the winner of a different primary election. He has reportedly received a certificate of return and is asserting his claim to the party’s ticket.
As of now, both politicians are holding onto their separate mandates, leaving the Accord party in Oyo State grappling with a looming crisis just months before the general election.