“Goodugoodu Speaks”: Busari Defends Accord Primary, Insists He Was Sole Aspirant at Abuja Consensus Meeting
The governorship candidate of the Accord Party in Oyo State, Hon. Kunle Busari, popularly known as “Goodugoodu,” has maintained that he was the only aspirant present at a crucial consensus meeting held in Abuja ahead of the party’s gubernatorial primary election.
Busari made the clarification during a live appearance on Political Circuit, a current affairs programme on Fresh FM Ibadan anchored by veteran broadcaster Mayor Isaac Brown. During the interview, the Accord flagbearer addressed growing controversies surrounding the conduct of the party’s primary election and the legitimacy of the nomination process.
According to Busari, the Abuja meeting was organized approximately 48 hours before the primary election as part of efforts to harmonize interests among aspirants and prevent internal disputes within the party. He stated clearly that despite invitations being extended to other aspirants and stakeholders, he was the only governorship hopeful who attended the meeting.
“I was the only aspirant who honoured the invitation and attended the consensus meeting,” Busari said during the programme. “My presence there shows my commitment to due process and to building unity in Accord.”
The Accord gubernatorial primary election eventually took place at the Ibadan Business School, Bodija, Ibadan, under the supervision of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The electoral body’s monitoring team was reportedly led by Engr. Keshinro, in line with provisions of Nigeria’s Electoral Act which require INEC officials to observe political party primaries for legitimacy and compliance purposes.
Busari, however, distinguished the officially recognized primary venue from another location where parallel party activities were allegedly held. According to him, activities said to have taken place at A3 Hotel, located along Orogun Road in the Ojoo area of Ibadan, were not monitored by INEC officials.
He stressed that under Nigeria’s electoral guidelines, the presence of INEC officials remains a critical requirement for validating party primaries and nomination exercises. Political observers believe the issue may become significant if disputes surrounding the primary election eventually result in legal challenges or internal party petitions.
Speaking further during the interview, Busari disclosed that the Accord Party chairman and secretary had already submitted his name alongside those of other aspirants to INEC as part of the official nomination process required by law.
The governorship candidate also used the platform to explain the circumstances surrounding his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the Accord Party. According to him, prolonged internal crises and unresolved leadership disputes within the PDP significantly affected the party’s structure and operations in Oyo State, forcing him to seek another political platform ahead of the 2027 governorship race.
Busari described Accord as a political platform that encourages inclusiveness, internal democracy, and respect for laid-down procedures. He maintained that his participation in both the Abuja consensus meeting and the INEC-monitored primary election demonstrated his commitment to lawful political engagement and party discipline.
Political analysts note that internal party democracy has increasingly become a major issue in Nigeria’s political system, with disputes arising from party primaries often leading to prolonged court battles before major elections. Several governorship contests across the country have previously been shaped by controversies over delegates’ lists, parallel congresses, and the legitimacy of primaries monitored by INEC.
Busari, however, called on Accord members and supporters across Oyo State to avoid division and remain focused on the bigger objective of winning future elections.
“Our focus should be on winning elections and delivering for the people of Oyo State,” he said. “That starts with following due process and staying united.”
The Accord candidate’s comments have continued to generate reactions within political circles in Oyo State, especially among party loyalists monitoring developments ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Meanwhile, INEC officials who supervised the Bodija primary are expected to submit their official report as part of the commission’s routine compliance and documentation procedures regarding party nominations and primary elections across the country.
With political alignments already taking shape ahead of the 2027 general elections, observers believe the unfolding developments within Accord may play a significant role in shaping opposition politics in Oyo State in the months ahead.
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