Aspirants that fail to disclose records of criminal misconduct and conviction to the screening panel risk disqualification.
By ADEFEMOLA AKINTADE
Ogun state governor Dapo Abiodun’s re-election bid faces a brick wall following a threat by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to disqualify aspirants who fail to disclose past criminal records.
In the events leading up to the APC primary elections, the party has mandated all aspirants to disclose records of criminal misconduct such as fraud and conviction to the screening panel or risk disqualification.
Sources close to the governor told Peoples Gazette he is angry about the development, as he had become jittery that the requirement could truncate his political career.
The City of Miami Police Department in the United States filed criminal charges against Mr Abiodun in 1986, according to police files seen by The Gazette.
He was charged with forgery and credit card theft, among other criminal activities.
But the embattled governor insisted his arrest was not sufficient grounds for his disqualification by the ruling party, despite concealing the information from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under an oath.
Last May, Abidemi Rufai, a longtime associate of Mr Abiodun, was arrested by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for his role in a $650 million (N312 billion) employment fraud. He pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Reaching out to Mr Abiodun’s spokesperson for comments, Kunle Somorin hung up the phone upon learning the call was a media enquiry from The Gazette. He had yet to reply to a text message sent to his mobile phone at the time of filing this report.
It remains unclear if the governor, who has vehemently denied his conviction by the U.S. government, would disclose the criminal records and secure the party’s ticket for a second term.
