…Warns it ‘ll be suicidal to field him for November poll
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
An aspirant for the Ondo State governorship election, Olugbenga Edema, has petitioned the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against fellow aspirant and the incumbent governor of the State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The aspirant, who petitioned through his campaign organisation, directed his letter through the National Legal Adviser, Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana, titled it; “In the matter of the alleged certificate forgery of the West African Examination Council Ordinary Level Certificate Number 15592/019 by Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa: The need to act now.”
“You would recall that the issue of the West African Examination Council O Level Certificate Number 15592/019 presented to your committee by Lucky Aiyedatiwa in furtherance of his aspiration to participate in the forthcoming Ondo state governorship primary of the party, has been a subject of controversy for some time now.
“This is borne out of the fact that he submitted the said certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the year 2020 for the purpose of being elected for for a public office, viz: office of the Deputy Governor of Ondo State.
It has been widely alleged that the said WASC number 15592/019 presented by Lucky Aiyedatiwa did not emanate through Ikosi High school where he claimed to be a student because of the following facts: Ikosi High school, Ketu was founded in the year 1980.
“Ikosi High school, Ketu was not accredited to sponsor or present candidates for the May/June WAEC examinations until the year 1985. That the May/June examinations of WAEC is only open to candidates who has attended a government approved secondary school and accredited by the West African Examination Council, (WAEC) to present and sponsor candidates for the examinations,” the petitioners claimed.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Monday to buttress the petition, Edema said that it will be suicidal for the ruling party to field him as its candidate for the November governorshiip poll.
He said: “I have conveyed this press conference in response to a sinister write-up by one Allen Sowore, to correct some innuendos arising from the said write-up and to also save the innocent members of the public from misinformation or any form of deception.
“You will recall that the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the year 2019 annul the election of David Lyon and his running mate as the duly elected Governor and Deputy Governor respectively on the ground of eligibility. The Supreme Court found as a fact that the running mate, Senator Degi-Eremienyo presented a forged document to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
“Against this background, I wrote a letter to the Chairman of the credentials/document vetting committee of the APC which the party set up, to critically look at the credentials which Ayedatiwa submitted to it.
“The reason for my information to the committee is not borne out of any animosity or ill-will towards Ayedatiwa or any person but to save the party and the entire APC members in Ondo State from the perdition that befell our members in Bayelsa State from which they are yet to recover.
“It is a notorious fact that the issue surrounding the WAEC O, level number 15592/019 submitted by Ayedatiwa to INEC in the year 2020 when he contested alongside the late Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has been generating serious controversies in the last two months.
“Therefore, it would be suicidal to field a candidate that carries so much baggage and later lose to the opposition party through the Court. In fact, we have it on good authority, that the PDP aspirants, knowing these facts, are praying fervently that the APC fields Ayedatiwa as its candidate in the forth-coming Ondo State gubernatorial election.
“It is worthy of note, that a person or political party that wins the 2024 gubernatorial election in Ondo State will still be in government when the 2027 general elections will hold.
“We cannot therefore keep our fingers crossed and allow our God-given victory to slip away through the mistake or impunity of one man. No person is above the party. As a responsible member and leader of the party in Ondo State, it will be a great disservice, if I do not lay this information before the leadership of the party,” he appealed to the party.