Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State addressed allegations regarding his West African Senior Certificate Examination (WASCE), emphasizing that his certificate is genuine and verifiable.
This statement came after a petition was purportedly filed by a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), questioning the authenticity of the certificate presented by Aiyedatiwa for the upcoming April 20 primary election.
According to Governor Aiyedatiwa, the allegations were baseless and a result of mischief by other aspirants.
He clarified that he was already in Form '3' at the time Ikosi High School was established in 1980 and that he graduated from the school in 1982, which was a part of the first set of students.
The Governor further stated that the schools he attended and the WAEC office could verify the subjects he took and the year he graduated.
Despite the controversy, Aiyedatiwa remains confident of his position as the leading candidate for the APC ticket, asserting that there is no vacancy in the Ondo State Government House.
He urged his opponents to focus on their campaigns instead of creating distractions.
Meanwhile, other aspirants such as Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and Olusola Oke (SAN) have criticized the Governor's "no vacancy" statement, calling it undemocratic and reckless.
They emphasized the importance of a fair and democratic process for the upcoming primaries.
The APC has commenced the screening of the 16 governorship aspirants who obtained the party's Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms, including Governor Aiyedatiwa, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, and Olusola Oke (SAN).
The screening process is a crucial step in determining the party's candidate for the Ondo State governorship election.
As the race for the Ondo governorship seat heats up, Governor Aiyedatiwa's clearance in the certificate scandal is a significant development.
It remains to be seen how this will impact his campaign and the outcome of the APC primaries scheduled for April 20.
