Ogun politician denies spending $80,000 to impose councillorship candidates

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Akintunde Armstrong, on Friday, described as false reports he is imposing councilorship candidates for Iperu Ward Three and Five in the Ikenne Local Government Area (LGA), insisting the reports are “the ranting of rudderless opposition to tarnish my image, misinform the public, and score cheap political points.”

Armstrong also refuted claims that he intended to spend $80,000 to secure the councilorship tickets for his loyalists—Olaleye Babatunde and Osularu Muyiwa— in the upcoming elections.

Speaking through a statement by his media assistant, Oluseun Joshua, in response to reports that he was planning to use cash and influence to impose Babatunde and Muyiwa as councilorship candidates in the November 16 LG polls, Armstrong said: “I am totally shocked and surprised with these unfounded and outright falsehoods being peddled about by some opposition elements.

“How could someone in his right senses with this harsh economy be boasting about spending a whopping sum of $80,000 which can’t be less than N120m to impose councilorship candidates? It is just sheer absurdity and lies from the pit of hell.”

Reacting to allegations that he boasted that not even the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, who hails from one of the wards, could prevent him from executing the alleged imposition, the APC chieftain dismissed these claims as “baseless, unfounded, and idle talk” from the opposition, urging the public to ignore them.

Armstrong re-pledged his loyalty to the governor and the party and reiterated his promise to support the party not only in producing the right candidates but to also help the ruling party to achieve a landslide victory in the forthcoming November 16 local government elections.

He said, “They equally said 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 it is wherever he goes that I will also go too. So, no truth in all of their hogwash and attempts to disparage me before the governor.”

Armstrong clarified that a video circulating among the opposition referred to funds allocated by the Dapo Abiodun Continuity Agenda to support and empower party members, a practice that has been ongoing across the state since 2019.

The APC chieftain reiterated his commitment to supporting the party, both in selecting suitable candidates and ensuring a landslide victory in the forthcoming November 16 local government elections.