APC Defends, Opposition Attacks Deputy Gov’s Academic Record in Ekiti

The Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has firmly dismissed allegations questioning the academic qualifications of the Deputy Governor and deputy governorship candidate, Mrs Monisade Afuye.

The controversy emerged after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published the particulars of candidates for the June 20 governorship election, which showed that Mrs Afuye sat for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examination in June 1978 at Amoye Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti. Her results included credits in Literature-in-English and Economics, and passes in History and Mathematics.

In a swift response, the APC’s Publicity Secretary in Ekiti, Segun Dipe, labeled the allegations as “baseless and politically motivated.” He accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) of sensationalising the issue to erode public confidence in the ruling party.

Dipe asserted that Mrs Afuye’s credentials were lawfully screened and approved by both the party and the relevant authorities, and she meets all constitutional requirements to run for office. He emphasized the deputy governor’s diligent service to the state and urged opposition parties to focus on presenting their policies instead of what he termed “smear campaigns.”

However, the opposition has intensified its criticism. The Southwest PDP Publicity Secretary, Chief Sanya Atofarati, described the situation as “embarrassing” and a “slap” on Ekiti State, widely recognized as a centre of academic excellence.

“It is disheartening that the APC is presenting a candidate with such a record for the sensitive office of deputy governor,” Atofarati stated. He questioned how a holder of a “low-level” certificate could effectively represent the state in high-level meetings with professors and technocrats.

Echoing similar concerns, the ADC’s State Publicity Secretary, Gboyega Aribisogan, raised doubts about the authenticity of the WAEC result submitted to INEC. He recalled that questions about Mrs Afuye’s qualifications first arose in 2022 when she was nominated as the deputy governorship candidate.

Aribisogan alleged that investigations at the time suggested she did not complete her education at the school she listed and that her certificate has been a subject of long-standing dispute. He warned that the issue could lead to litigation that might jeopardize the APC ticket in the forthcoming election.

The APC maintains that the matter is a non-issue and a desperate tactic by rivals, while the opposition insists it highlights a serious question of credibility for the ruling party’s candidates.