The All Progressives Congress in Oyo says there is no group within its fold that endorsed Governor Seyi Makinde’s reelection bid.

This is contained in a statement signed by its spokesman Olawale Sadare on Sunday.

The APC was reacting to a media report claiming that some pro-Tinubu Support Groups had ditched the party’s governorship candidate, Teslim Folarin, for Mr Makinde.

The groups, Southern for Tinubu BAT Democracy, Yoruba Campaign for BAT and Tinubu Campaign Movement, had allegedly endorsed Mr Makinde’s reelection bid.

APC said the groups were unknown to the party, adding that all the known pro-Tinubu support groups were registered with the party.

“First and foremost, we would like to state that there are no pro-Tinubu groups registered with Oyo APC by the names mentioned above. The names mentioned in the fallacious news report are fictitious. The latest fake news came from the same unscrupulous elements who promoted one non-existing Alhaji Bashir Adeola as Oyo APC chieftain purportedly supporting the governor,” the APC statement explained.

According to the statement, APC is alerting the public, particularly voters, to be wary of impostors.

“They are being sponsored to promote fake endorsement of the governor’s second term ambition with a view to mislead the electorate,” it said, describing the purported endorsement as “a manifestation of cowardice, undue pressure and desperation.”

APC said no reasonable politician in Oyo would trust Mr Makinde again, considering the fate allegedly suffered in his hands by those who assisted him in becoming governor in 2019.

“As a serious political party, our focus is on the March 11 governorship and the house of assembly election, where we (are) poised to better the feat we recorded on February 25,” said APC. “We would not allow any confused desperado to distract us, and it is at this juncture that we are appealing to the good people of the state to be resolute.”

It added, “They should stand their ground and be ready to prevent Oyo state from falling into opposition again under Tinubu’s presidency.” 

(NAN)