Confusion over Kwara APC gov candidate’s alleged forged certificate

Confusion enveloped the programmes of the Kwara State branch of
the All Progressives Congress in Ilorin on Saturday following a
publication by an online medium “news accelerator” that the
governorship candidate of the party, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq,
allegedly presented a forged WAEC certificate to the Independent
National Electoral Commission for the March 2 governorship
election.

Though both the state branch of the APC and the media aide to
the governorship candidate, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, dismissed the
allegation as fake news, SUNDAY PUNCH correspondent in Ilorin
observed that two programmes earlier scheduled by the party’s
executives were either cancelled or postponed.

It was gathered that a press conference organised by the
Committee on President Mohamadu Buhari’s campaign visit to Kwara
State on Monday scheduled to hold at the new secretariat of the
party at theGRA, Ilorin at 11am was postponed indefinitely via the
party’s Whatshap message. Another programme where the party was to
receive decampees from the PDP and other political parties was
cancelled outright by 10.30am shortly before its commencement.

The State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Folaranmi Aro, who
described the story of the alleged certificate forgery as untrue
explained that the press conference was postponed because members
of the state campaign committee were yet to conclude their
meeting.

He said, “The state committee on the visit of President Buhari
met this morning, but we could not conclude our meeting. We are
going to meet again at 1pm today and if we can conclude our
meeting, we will call you either by 3pm or 4pm today,” he said.

Also, Abdulrazak’s media aide, Ajakaye, described the news story
as untrue, adding that his principal submitted genuine documents to
INEC.

He said, “The media may note that Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq was
prequalified and indeed contested elections in 2011 and 2015 with
the same genuine WAEC results.

“Raising fake news about his certificate now is another lame
attempt by the discredited political dynasty clutching at straws in
the face of imminent defeat in the elections.”

Warning the media to be wary of publishing false news report,
Ajakaye maintained, “We however add that the candidate reserves the
right to press charges against anyone who deliberately and
mischievously peddles lies against him without any credible
evidence.”