Ahead of Saturday’s local government elections in Kogi state, the chairmanship candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in Ijumu LGA, Hon Musa Olumayowa Yakubu (MOY) says he is fully prepared to achieve victory across all fronts.
In a statement issued by the MOY Campaign Team in Iyara on Wednesday, the Action Alliance candidate accused his opponents of fake news and misinformation about his candidature.
The campaign team stated that no amount of rumour spreading will stop the Action Alliance from winning the election on October 19.
They alleged that the current rumour making round that AA candidate has stepped down from the race is the fourth attempt to subvert Hon, Musa’s impending victory at the polls.
The statement added that no amount of rumour mongering will deter the AA candidate from emerging victorious on Saturday.
“It is disheartening to witness the misuse of power by those in authority, who seem to forget that such power is transient. The intimidation began when the Action Alliance in Ijumu LGA announced Hon Olumayowa Yakubu as the party’s candidate for the local government election scheduled for October 19.
“Following this declaration, representatives from the ruling political party in the state approached him, urging him to either withdraw his candidacy or form a unity government with their own candidate. The determined candidate firmly rejected this insincere proposal, asserting his commitment to revitalizing and restoring the lost glory of Ijumu land.
“After their initial strategy failed, they resorted to disseminating falsehoods, claiming that none of the Action Alliance candidates were included in the SIEC’s approved list. They asserted that all candidates had been disqualified and would not appear on the ballot. This assertion was quickly debunked when the SIEC released the approved list, which included the names of all Action Alliance candidates, with the exception of the Vice Chairmanship candidate.
“Subsequently, another rumour emerged suggesting that our Chairmanship Candidate, Hon Musa Olumayowa Yakubu, would face disqualification three days before the election due to the Vice Chair candidate’s lack of SIEC approval. As expected, the SIEC promptly released the approved name of the Vice Chairmanship candidate, thereby dispelling this rumour.
“Lastly, we received a security report following the launch of the Musa/Funke Mandate’s Strategic Campaign, indicating that the Action Alliance campaign team would be attacked during public campaigning. However, this plan could not be executed as anticipated, since we did not engage in the conventional open campaigning they are accustomed to. Instead, we implemented a strategic campaign approach, discreetly meeting with voters and relying on the mobilization efforts of our councilorship candidates throughout the LGA..
“Finally, the allegations regarding the manipulation of voting processes or the obstruction of voting materials from reaching regions with significant Action Alliance support are rapidly going on; however, we remain undeterred. We will adhere strictly to INEC’s position as enshrined in the constitution as we are fully prepared to achieve victory across all fronts,” the statement read in part.
The campaign team expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support received so far, assuring Ijumu electorate that the Action Alliance and its candidates are committed to restoring and revitalizing the lost glory of Ijumu LGA.
