Farouk Aliyu, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has refuted claims that the ruling party makes agreements with state governors prior to defections.
It was alleged that Aliyu made this known during an interview on ARISE Television, when responding to charges that anti-corruption authorities were being weaponised against opposition members.
He maintained that accusations and evidence, not party allegiance, were the basis for charges by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He emphasized that Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s choice to back President Bola Tinubu was made independently and that there was no agreement between the federal government and any state to impose political alignment.
Aliyu emphasized that the APC would have preferred to win the most recent Anambra State governorship election, but it did not.
The result should be acknowledged as a component of the democratic process, the APC leader continued.
“Well, about a one-party state, you know, it’s really very subjective because there is absolutely no coercion,” he stated. What transpired in Anambra State was mentioned by your colleague who departed before I arrived. I mean, none of these states and our government have an agreement.
Governor Soludo made the wise decision to declare his support for Mr. President. And as we would have loved to win Anambra State, our people, the APC, ought to prevail in that election. That’s all—we lost.
“So, do we say, ‘No, don’t come,’ to any of these governors who come to us? No coercion is present.
“And you should ask everybody who claims to have been harmed by anti-corruption organizations if there are any justifications. Is that accurate? Are there accusations? These are accusations.
As of the now, the EFCC or ICPC are prosecuting senior members of our party, the APC. However, you are aware that it is a component of the opposition. I don’t blame them; they are free to say anything they want, but there is absolutely no proof that the EFCC is being used as a weapon against anyone in this nation.
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