Ogun LG elections: APC chieftain denies imposition of candidates

An Ogun State chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Akintunde Armstrong, has denied reports of him imposing councilorship candidates for Iperu Wards 3 and 5 in Ikenne Local Government Area of the state.

According to a report on Thursday, the chieftain was alleged to have boasted of using cash and influence to impose his two loyalists, Olaleye Babatunde and Osularu Olabanjo Muyiwa, as the councilorship candidates for the party in the November 16 local government elections in the state.

Armstrong was also alleged to have boasted that even Governor Dapo Abiodun, who is from one of these wards, could not stop him from going ahead with the alleged imposition.

However, the Iperu Remo-born politician on Friday denied ever saying that he would use a staggering sum of $80,000 to ensure his two loyalists secured the councilorship tickets for the two wards.

He said the report was “the ranting of rudderless opposition to tarnish my image, misinform the public, and score cheap political points.”

Armstrong said, “I am totally shocked and surprised by these unfounded and outright falsehoods being peddled by some opposition elements.

“How could someone in their right senses, given this harsh economy, be boasting about spending a whopping sum of $80,000, which cannot be less than N120 million, to impose councilorship candidates? It is sheer absurdity and lies from the pit of hell.

“They also claimed I boasted that even the governor cannot stop me. Is that not the height of foolishness? His Excellency, Gov. Dapo Abiodun, is my leader and mentor; he is the leader of the party, and wherever he goes, I will also go. So, there is no truth in their hogwash and attempts to disparage me before the governor.”

He explained that the video in circulation was discussing the funds that the Dapo Abiodun Continuity Agenda has earmarked to further support and empower party members, just as the political group has been doing all over the state since its establishment in 2019.

Meanwhile, he pledged his loyalty to the governor and the party while reiterating his promise to support the party not only in producing the right candidates but also to help the ruling party achieve a landslide victory in the forthcoming local government elections.