By Chris Chimezie
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Leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Akoko North West Council Area of Ondo State have spurned allegations that the state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is funding the Action Alliance (AA) candidates in Saturday’s election.

They described as false, a statement credited to one Thalis Apalowo that the governor has been bankrolling the campaign expenses of the AA candidates in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the party’s leadership from the local government, the APC Chairman in Akoko North West Local Government, Tajudeen Kareem described the allegations as not only false, wicked but a tissue of concocted lies but also tactics of a group seeking attention.

Mr Thalis Apalowo while acting as a spokesperson of a group of leaders and elders in Akoko North West Local Government, had on Monday, through a statement, alleged that Governor Akeredolu was financing the activities of the Action Alliance (AA), and that he indeed disbursed money for the prosecution of AA candidates in the elections.

 Tajudeen had claimed that his allegation was based on credible source.

“It is not only ridiculous that Thalis would sign such statement, but also sad that he signed the statement on behalf of a group of leaders and elders of the party in our local government area.

“By any standard, Thalis is neither a leader nor an elder of our great party in Akoko North West Local Government.

He failed woefully in his effort to smear the governor when he refused to name members of the so-called group.

“It is an insult on the collective honour of our leaders and elders in Akoko North West that a young man in his 30s would ascribe to himself the title of a leader and elder, and claiming to be representing a faceless group”, he said.

The statement further alleged that Governor Akeredolu is the principal threat to the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates in Ondo State.

While addressing issues raised by Thalis and his group, he said Governor Akeredolu, as the leader of the APC in Ondo State, has always supported President Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of the APC at all levels.

He hinted that it is on record, that Governor Akeredolu, organized one of the most successful political rallies in the state’s three senatorial districts, with centres in Owo, Akure and Ore respectively, adding that at each of the rallies were eminent leaders and members of APC in each of the senatorial zones.

The Chairman explained that on the eve of the elections, the Governor met with leaders of APC from the 18 local government areas of the state which included party chairmen, women leaders, local government caretaker chairmen and three leaders from each of the 18 local government areas to discuss the success of the party in the elections.

He further explained that funds for party Agents and other logistics were then disbursed for the purpose of the elections.

He however stated that the APC leadership in Akoko North West Local Government is working assiduously for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari saying no form of blackmail would deter them from carrying on with the support.

Other leaders and elders who were at the briefing included; Secretary of APC in Akoko North West Local Government, Elder Badmus Abayomi, Commissioner for Natural Resources, Alhaji Rasheed Badmus and Caretaker Chairman of Akoko North West Local Government, Ayodele Akande.

Others were Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Legislative Matters and former ODHA Speaker, Rt Hon Segun Bolarinwa, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Ondo State Governor, Segun Ajiboye, SSA to the Governor on Political Matters, Austin Pelemo, Muyiwa Asagunla, Princess Folakemi Ogunsile, Tunde Daramola among others.