As members of All Progressives Congress(APC) and governorship aspirants on the platform of the party prepare for the Saturday, April 20, 2024 governorship primaries, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been accused of generating fake APC membership register and slips distributing same to nonmembers of the party to vote for him.
In a statement signed by Evang. Tade Ojo, Coordinator, a socio-political group, Ondo Vanguards for Good Governance, made available newsmen in Akure, the state capital, on Friday, Governor Aiyedatiwa and some senior members of his cabinet were alleged to have began to generate and distribute fake membership slips of APC to nonmembers of the party to better his chance in the party’s primaries or discredit the exercise.
It would be recalled that the leadership of APC had resolved to adopt direct mode of primaries to choose who becomes the standard bearer of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election on November 16, 2024 in the state.
In this mode of primaries, all card-carrying members of the party would participate in the voting exercise across the 203 wards in the state.
According to the statement, “The primary election of our great party, APC, will be held on 29th of April, 2024. As loyal party members, we have duties to our state and party to ensure credible, free, and fair primary that will deliver popular and accountable leadership is achieved. It is this reason of duty of service to our state and party that compelled us to issue this statement.
“Like the unending blood stain on the nails of someone with lice infested head, the governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his vicious strategists have continued to thread the calamitous path meant to either rig the forthcoming primary election of the APC, or discredit it, as they are faced with imminent defeat.
“Recall that reports of the annihilating steps being taken by Aiyedatiwa’s supporters to recruit thugs to unleash uncommon violence in areas where Aiyedatiwa is believed will lose the coming primary have been made public.
“It is important to stress that the leadership of appropriate security agencies has been alerted on this devious act of the governor that has feigned and simulated popularity through procured fickle endorsements.
“The second in line of the escapades of the governor and his desperate partners, particularly some senior appointees to the State government, is the generation of fake membership register and printing of fake membership slips to people who are no members of APC.
“Whereas it is foolhardy to believe that the new fake documents being produced by these anarchists could be impressed successfully on the national committee saddled with the responsibility of conducting the primary election, it is needful that we expose this disruptive acts, so that the satanic intentions of Aiyedatiwa’s evil geniuses to either confuse APC members or cast doubt on the conduct of the primary election are nipped in the bud.
“We use this opportunity to, once again, call on the national leadership of the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not to allow Aiyedatiwa and his collaborating desperados disrupt the APC primary Ondo State.
“We also call on the leaders of our great party to prevail on the governor and the gang of his red beret not to hurt the chances of the APC in the forthcoming primary election of the party and the general election in November as well as the desire of the good people of Ondo State for a new lease of life, through purposeful leadership and good governance.”
But Kayode Fasua, spokesman for Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organization, described the allegation as spurious.
He said: “While it is clear that these allegations are coming from faceless people, we can’t for the sake of ignoring them allow the innocent people to be hoodwinked.
“The primary election is an internal affair of the APC and the party leadershipm is independent of government. Before the party, all aspirants, including the governor, are equal in treatment; regarding campaigns and the internal electoral process.
“Therefore, Governor Aiyedatiwa or his supporters are far removed from this lie of printing fake membership cards, as alleged by jittery aspirants hiding behind fingers.
“Again, the allegation of the governor unleashing terror or destroying billboards is trite and unappealing too the public, because the Police have never for once heard of such complaint, much less arrest anyone. They should go drink some water and sleep for their enviously frayed nerves. Hardworking Governor Aiyedatiwa has overtaken them.”
