Edema to APC: Avoid Bayelsa’s fate in Ondo
A governorship aspirant in All Progressives Congress (APC) April 20 primary in Ondo State, Olugbenga Edema, has said the party should avoid what befell the party in Bayelsa State in 2019 from repeating itself in Ondo.
He said with the challenge hanging on the academic credentials of Governor Lucky Ayiedatiwa, the party vetting committee should critically look at the credentials submitted by the governor.
Ayiedatiwa and 15 aspirants, including Edema, are jostling for APC ticket in the primary ahead of the November 16 governorship election.
Addressing reporters in Abuja yesterday, Edema, former member of House of Assembly, said his action was not borne out of animosity but to save the party and members from the perdition that befell APC in Bayelsa State.
Edema said he wrote to Prof. Abdulkarim Kana, national legal adviser, on the need to act and save the party.
Referring to a similar incident, Edema said: “The Supreme Court in 2019 annulled the election of David Lyon and his running mate as the elected governor and deputy on the grounds of eligibility. The Supreme Court found that the running mate, Senator Degi-Eremienyo, presented a forged document to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Against this background, I wrote a letter to the chairman of the credentials/document vetting committee of All Progressives Congress, which the party set up, to look at the credentials which Ayedatiwa submitted to it.
“The reason for my information to the committee is not borne out of any animosity to Lucky Ayedatiwa or any person but to save the party and members in Ondo State from the perdition that befell our members in Bayelsa State.
“It is a fact the issue surrounding the WAEC ordinary level (O’level) No. 15592/019 submitted by Lucky Ayedatiwa to INEC in 2020 when he contested with the late governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has been generating controversies in the last two months.
“The certificate was said to have been investigated by the police and a report signed by DCP Tahir Usman, indicting Lucky Ayedatiwa of certificate forgery, misrepresentation and perjury was issued.”
The aspirant warned: “It would be suicidal to field a candidate that carries so much baggage and lose to the opposition party through the court.
“I have it on good authority, that PDP aspirants, knowing these facts, are praying that APC fields Ayedatiwa in the governorship election.”
