The All Progressives Congress Presidential Council has discarded claims that Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural group, was supporting the presidential bid of Peter Obi, Labour Party’s presidential candidate.
The party’s comment comes against the backdrop of Pa Ayo Adebanjo’s endorsement of Obi’s presidential bid.
When expressing support for Obi in July, the Afenifere leader claimed that only the LP candidate would lead freely and “without the influence of these criminals in government.”
However, Bayo Onanuga, APC campaign director of media and marketing, responded in a statement on Saturday, saying Adebanjo does not speak for Afenifere.
According to Onanuga, while Adebanjo is allowed to support anybody he wants, he cannot transform the Yoruba group into a personal brand.
“Papa Ayo Adebanjo does not speak for Afenifere. He is free as an individual to support anyone he likes, in furtherance of his democratic right,” he said.
“We know for a fact that Baba has turned Afenifere into his personal estate as Acting Leader. We are also certain that there was nowhere Afenifere, as we know it, met and took a decision to adopt Mr. Peter Obi as a candidate for the 2023 presidential election.
“We respect the age of Baba Adebanjo but he can not turn Afenifere into his personal franchise for any political alliance.
“We are very much aware that Baba Reuben Fasoranti, the real leader of Afenifere had stated clearly that Pa Adebanjo has always been speaking for himself on many national issues using the name of the group.
“It is our well-considered position that Pa Adebanjo cannot appropriate Afenifere. Baba is just an individual who is free to support any politician of his choice. As an individual, he cannot equate himself with the socio-cultural and socio-political organisation.”
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