Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has disowned campaign posters circulating in parts of the state promoting him as the Kwara South Senatorial District candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The disclaimer is coming days after the Independent National Electoral Commission insisted that Ahmed, from its records, remains the candidate for the election.
Governor Ahmed, who spoke via a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, described the posters as fake since they were not approved, sanctioned or sponsored by him as he was no longer the PDP Kwara South Senatorial District candidate.
Ahmed stressed that he stands by his earlier decision to concede the PDP Kwara South Senatorial District ticket to incumbent Senator Rafiu Ibrahim in the interest of equity and fairness.
He added that he subsequently formally withdrew from the senatorial race in full compliance with the provisions and processes specified by the Electoral Act.
On the basis of that decision, Ahmed said he has since campaigned for Ibrahim and could therefore not have authorized the fake campaign posters.
He accused the opposition All Progressives Congress candidate of masterminding the circulation of the fake posters in a futile attempt to cause confusion, having realised that the PDP is poised for victory at all levels in the forthcoming general elections.
INEC had on January 21 insisted Ahmed remains the candidate for the election and went ahead to list his name among those standing for the election.
A Commissioner of INEC, Festus Okoye, said the electoral body had no choice but to list Ahmed as senatorial candidate.
Okoye made this known on a Channels Television programme: “Politics today.”
According to him: “Governor Ahmed is the PDP senatorial candidate for Kwara South.
“It is only death that can replace his name on the list.”