Aide Denies Certificate Forgery Allegations Against Governor Aiyedatiwa, Cites Political Motives

 

The recent allegations of certificate forgery against Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa have been dismissed as false and politically motivated.

Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, revealed in a statement on Monday that the claims were orchestrated by political adversaries seeking to tarnish the governor's reputation ahead of the November 16, 2024 governorship poll in Ondo State.

Adeniyan characterized the allegations as the desperate actions of individuals who, having failed to secure Aiyedatiwa's impeachment, have resorted to a smear campaign. According to him, a governorship aspirant orchestrated the plot during a meeting at a popular hotel in Akure, instructing attendees to fabricate stories alleging that the governor used forged certificates to contest elections.

He urged the public to be vigilant and aware of this scheme, emphasizing that Governor Aiyedatiwa's credentials were lawfully submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2020 governorship election and are publicly available. The timing of the allegations coincides with the state's mourning period following the death of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in late December.

While Governor Aiyedatiwa has the constitutional right to contest the 2024 governorship poll, questions linger about his political ambitions and whether he will seek electoral support from Akeredolu's camp. INEC has scheduled the Ondo State Governorship Poll for November 16, 2024, pending any unforeseen changes. As Aiyedatiwa completes Akeredolu's second term by February 2025, the possibility of his candidacy for an additional eight years remains open, contingent on the electorate's decision.

The unfolding political dynamics in Ondo State will determine whether Aiyedatiwa chooses to pursue office actively or take a different path, and only time will reveal the ultimate course of his political journey.