OPC not planning to rig Lagos poll for Jonathan, Agbaje - Spokesman

Oodua People's Congress, OPC, has refuted allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that it plans to rig Lagos gubernatorial and house of assembly polls on Saturday.

A statement signed by Barrister Yinka Oguntimehin, OPC Director of Media and Publicity said a press release by the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed via the social media linking Otunba (Dr.) Gani Adams with an allegation of planning to rig the gubernatorial elections in Lagos State coming up on 11th day of April, 2105 was a blatant falsehood.

He said: 'There is no iota of truth in the statement. The OPC is neither a political party nor partisan organization. As an organization, the OPC led by Otunba (Dr.) Gani Adams in consonance with our constitutional franchise expressed our support for President (Dr.) Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in the presidential elections held on the 28th day of March, 2015 because of his avowed commitment to equity, justice, fairness and the equitable distribution of our collective constitutional rights.'

'Members of the general public will recall that Alhaji Lai Mohammed has a penchant for peddling falsehood. He had earlier lied that the OPC led by Otunba (Dr.) Gani Adams would cause chaos and disrupt the presidential elections held on 28th day of March, 2015 by distributing Military Uniforms to OPC members.

'However, there was no single incident of the involvement of OPC in any disruptive tendency before, during and after the elections. Alhaji Lai Mohammed false propaganda will only succeed in propagating Otunba (Dr.) Gani Adams soaring popularity.'

'Events consequent to the said presidential election have vindicated Otunba (Dr.) Gani Adams position on the good qualities inherent in President (Dr.) Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as a statesman and national hero celebrated all over the world for his conduct before, during and after the elections.'

'On the issue of the impending gubernatorial elections in Lagos State, the Oba of Lagos; Oba Riliwan Akiolu, the State Chairman of APC: Otunba Henry Ajomale, other notable First Class Traditional rulers and Eminent Personalities have intervened on behalf of the APC. Consequent upon this intervention, Otunba (Dr.) Gani Adams and OPC are not partisan in any manner in this regard.'

Continuing, OPC assured Nigerians that OPC led by Otunba (Dr.) Gani Adams will keep the peace and exercise our franchise in accordance with the constitution.

'The Nigerian constitution guarantees freedom of association and nobody has the right to dictate or choose who Oodua Peoples Congress and Otunba (Dr.) Gani Adams ought to associate with. Otunba (Dr.) Gani Adams will continue to maintain his friendship with President (Dr.) Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the remainder of his presidential tenure and afterwards because he is humble and tolerant,' the OPC statement concluded.