The national leadership of the Accord Party, on Friday, dismissed as “laughable” the purported suspension of its National Chairman, Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, describing the action and the expulsion announcement made by former presidential candidate, Prof. Chris Imumolen, as a desperate attempt to regain lost political relevance.

Accord said the event held in Keffi, Nasarawa State, where Imumolen announced the purported suspension, was nothing more than a “jamboree” staged with non-members of the party.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, the party said Imumolen’s actions were consistent with his “fallen political ego” and his alleged history of attempting to hijack the party in violation of its constitution.

According to the statement, Imumolen was expelled by the National Executive Committee (NEC) on November 20, 2024, a decision he neither challenged nor appealed. The party added that his subsequent lawsuit against the national leadership was dismissed by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo for lack of jurisdiction.

Delivering judgement in the suit filed by Accord, Prof. Christopher Imumolen & 13 others against Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, Maryam Saleh & 12 others in Suit No. CV/3823/24 and Motion No. M/11942/2024, by Justice Fatima A. Aliyu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, on 17th July 2025, the court 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, and the inclusion of Federal Government agencies as Defendants raises issues that lie solely within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court by virtue of Section 251(1)(p), (q), and (r) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“In light of the foregoing, the Preliminary Objection succeeds. This suit is accordingly struck out for want of jurisdiction. All pending applications and interim orders granted in this matter shall abide by this decision.”

Accord said the ruling further confirms that Imumolen “is no longer a member of our great party, let alone qualified to convene a purported stakeholders’ meeting.”

The statement added that the party would not be distracted by the actions of “a drowning man looking for a straw to hold,” insisting that there is no leadership crisis within Accord.

It added, “Maxwell Mgbudem remains the authentic national chairman of Accord, duly recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and listed on the Commission’s website.
“All members of the party are in one accord and will not be distracted by the activities of its expelled members and their sponsors, whose intention is to destabilise the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
“Accord under the leadership of Barr. Mgbudem has been reorganised and repositioned as a formidable progressive mass movement in the quest for a better, greater and prosperous democratic nation.”

The party also urged Nigerians to disregard Imumolen’s activities, stressing that the Keffi gathering was not a legitimate organ of the party but an attempt to “mislead unsuspecting members of the public through cheap publicity.”