Accord Party Unveils Massive Fee Waivers For Women And Youth, Slashes Nomination Costs Ahead Of 2027 Elections

The leadership crisis rocking the Accord Party has taken a new turn as Professor Christopher Imumolen, who claims to be the party’s National Chairman, announced sweeping reductions in nomination fees and substantial waivers for women, youth, and persons living with disabilities ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, the factional National Chairman of the party, Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, who was elected at a convention monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission in July 2024, has dismissed Imumolen as an expelled member, creating a confusing landscape for prospective aspirants.

According to the proposal announced by Imumolen following a National Executive Council meeting, the party has set presidential nomination forms at N20 million with an additional N10 million for expression of interest. In a significant move aimed at inclusivity, women and persons living with disabilities are to receive a 70 percent waiver on all fees, while aspirants below the age of 40 will benefit from a 50 percent reduction across all categories.

Professor Imumolen described the initiative as a deliberate strategy to “empower underrepresented groups and encourage wider political participation,” noting that the party is committed to building a platform where competence and vision are not overshadowed by financial barriers.

This announcement comes amid a fierce internal battle for the soul of the Accord Party. The faction led by Barr. Mgbudem, which controls the party’s national secretariat and boasts the membership of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has also released its own timetable and nomination fees, though details of those fees have not been publicly detailed with the same level of specificity.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Mgbudem firmly denied the existence of any leadership dispute, stating, “For the avoidance of doubt, there is no leadership dispute or faction in Accord, and there is no court order in favour of Imumolen or anybody for INEC to comply with”. He maintained that Imumolen was expelled from the party on November 20, 2024, and accused him of seeking cheap publicity.

The situation has been further complicated by the Lagos State chapter of the Accord Party, which issued a statement throwing its weight behind Imumolen. Lagos Accord dismissed Mgbudem’s leadership as an “imposed interest” and insisted that a valid subsisting court order acknowledges Imumolen’s mandate. The statement read in part, “This sudden denial is nothing but a desperate attempt to cover up a deeper political conspiracy”.

As the leadership tussle plays out, Imumolen has set a firm deadline for his faction’s nomination process, warning that membership registration and the purchase of forms would end on April 26, with the window closing just days after the announcement. The move represents one of the most aggressive inclusivity policies seen in Nigeria’s political opposition landscape in recent years.