tension Builds In Apc Over Kwara Governor-elects Waec Certificate; Apc Summons Crucial Meeting

By Rafiu Fatai

As the court-mandated timeline to defend the authenticity of his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate winds down, the Kwara State Governor-elect, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has began frantic moves to mitigate against a potential disqualification of his candidacy, based on the secondary school credentials he submitted to the Independent Electoral National Commission (INEC).

On Friday and Saturday night, APC leaders in Kwara state held several marathon meetings to discuss the certificate scandal of the governor-elect.

A source familiar with the development stated that the APC leaders also discussed potential ‘worst-case scenarios’ in the event that Abdulrazaq will be unable to prove that his WAEC result is real. One such scenario that was considered, was the possibility of the Governor-elect, Abdulrazaq, relinquishing his position to his deputy, Mr. Kayode Alabi, to pre-empt the decision of the court.

Recall that following the decision by the Kwara State High Court, which gave the governor-elect 30 days to defend his WAEC certificate, Abdulrazak has been reportedly working with high-level INEC officials to substitute the fake result that the then-candidate submitted to the electoral body.

The case with suit number KWS/73/2019, and is being presided over by Justice Adenike Akinpelu, issued the ultimatum following a suit instituted against the APC gubernatorial candidate by the applicant, Adekunle Oluwafemi Abraham.

In the court’s writ dated March 7, 2019, the court ordered the defendant (Abdurahman Abdulrazaq) to “within 30 days after the service of this writ on you inclusive of the day of such service, you do cause an appearance to be entered in an action at the suit of Adekunle Oluwafemi Abraham and take notice that in default of you doing so, the claimant may proceed therein and judgment may be given in your absence.”