Ekiti South APC Reps Candidate Hits Ojuawo Over Alleged Campaign Of Calumny, Says “I Won’t Be Distracted”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Ekiti South Federal Constituency in the 2027 House of Representatives election, Engr. Toyin Okoro, has urged the incumbent lawmaker, AVM Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo (rtd.), to accept the outcome of the party’s primary election and refrain from what he described as a sustained campaign of calumny against him.

Okoro, through his Campaign Council, said he would not be distracted by a media report alleging that he was “grilled over alleged contract fraud” by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday and signed by the Director of Media, Strategy and Publicity of the Campaign Council, Yomi Abegunde, the campaign organisation said Okoro merely honoured an invitation from the ICPC to respond to a petition submitted to the commission, describing his action as that of a law abiding citizen willing to subject himself to due process.

The Campaign Council stressed that an invitation by an investigative agency to clarify issues raised in a petition should not, in itself, be construed as an indictment, conviction or proof of wrongdoing.

It alleged that the report was part of an attempt to discredit Okoro following Ojuawo’s defeat at the APC primary election, adding that the campaign would not be derailed by what it described as politically motivated allegations.

The statement said: “Engr. Toyin Okoro was invited by the ICPC to respond to a petition before it, which he has done as a law abiding citizen.

“An invitation to clarify issues is a routine procedure and does not amount to guilt, indictment or conviction. Engr. Okoro remains confident in his record and has nothing to hide.”

The Campaign Council also addressed allegations concerning Okoro’s previous position as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of a private company while serving as a Senior Legislative Aide at the National Assembly.

According to the statement, Okoro resigned his position as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company following his appointment as a Senior Legislative Aide, insisting that he did not violate any law.

“We state categorically that Engr. Toyin Okoro never broke any law as he duly resigned as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of a private company when he was appointed as Senior Legislative Aide at the National Assembly,” the statement said.

The Campaign Council further alleged that Ojuawo had pursued several avenues to challenge Okoro’s emergence as the APC candidate, beginning with a petition before the party’s Screening Committee seeking his disqualification.

It said the screening committee rejected the petition and cleared Okoro to participate in the primary election.

The Council also alleged that another petition questioning Okoro’s claim to Ise Ekiti ancestry was unsuccessful, maintaining that his lineage and status as an indigene of Ise Ekiti were well documented.

It added that Ojuawo had subsequently approached the court to challenge the outcome of the primary election, describing the matter as sub judice and expressing confidence that the judicial process would determine the matter.

The statement further alleged that, following the unsuccessful attempts at the party and judicial levels, a petition was subsequently submitted to the ICPC, which the Campaign Council described as an attempt to embarrass and distract the APC candidate.

The Council said: “Like others before it, this campaign of calumny will fail. Engr. Toyin Okoro remains focused on the mandate entrusted to him by members of our party and will not be distracted from the task ahead.”

It appealed to APC supporters across Ikere, Ekiti South West and Ise/Orun Local Government Areas, as well as other stakeholders in Ekiti State, to remain calm and disregard what it described as attempts to undermine the party’s cohesion.

The Campaign Council also appealed to the Ekiti State Government, the national leadership of the APC and other stakeholders to pay attention to what it described as actions capable of deepening divisions within the party.

On security, the Council called on the Inspector General of Police, the Department of State Services and other relevant security agencies to ensure adequate protection for Okoro and members of his family.

It said the appeal was informed by concerns over what it described as the increasingly contentious nature of the political dispute, urging all parties to pursue their grievances through lawful and democratic channels.

The Council said the APC primary election had produced Okoro as the party’s candidate and maintained that the outcome should be respected pending the determination of any lawful challenge.

It added that Okoro remained focused on the 2027 general election and would continue to engage the people of Ekiti South Federal Constituency on his programme and vision for the constituency.

The statement was signed by Yomi Abegunde, Director, Media, Strategy and Publicity, Engr. Toyin Zacheous Okoro Campaign Council.