The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) of spreading false claims against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Tinubu-Shettima campaign council was reacting to a document carrying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),logo and description which claimed that the commission is investigating a 1993 case in the United States involving Tinubu.
The purpoted document had surfaced on social media platforms on Friday which showed that Tinubu had forfeited $460,000 to the US government.
However, INEC has since denied that it is probing Tinubu.
“A Press Release purported to have been issued by the Commission has been trending online since yesterday Friday 11th November 2022. It claims that the Commission has commenced investigation into a case of criminal forfeiture against one of the Presidential candidates in the forthcoming General Election and is liaising with a Court in the United States of America in pursuit of same to determine possible violation of our guidelines or the Electoral Act 2022
“We wish to state categorically that the said Press Release did not emanate from the Commission nor is it pursuing the purported course of action. It is the handiwork of mischief makers and utterly fake,” INEC had denied
Reacting, Bayo Onanuga the APC campaign’s media director,in a statement on Sunday described the opposition parties as purveyors of fake news.
Onanuga stated that those he referred to as antagonists of Tinubu forged the document out of desperation hoping that, Tibubu would be disqualified from the race.
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“The opposition Peoples Democratic Party and its subsidiary Labour Party having realised they have no sure path to victory in the February 2023 presidential election upped their campaign of calumny, disinformation and misinformation on Saturday by sponsoring fake news against the All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Onanuga said.
“They did it by forging the letterhead of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the signature of its national commissioner, Festus Okoye.
“The forged statement purportedly issued by INEC was disseminated to deceive the gullible public that INEC was investigating allegations against Asiwaju Tinubu that, they desperately hoped, will ultimately lead to the disqualification of the frontline APC Presidential candidate.
He stressed that they were not in any way surprised by the antics of the sinking opposition parties but seen some compromised media organisations gulped the falsehood, hook, line and sinker, without attempting to verify was shocking.
“We understand why they did so: the forgery and its narrative fit their mindset of throwing overboard every known virtue of ethical journalism and professionalism, as they work in cahoots with the opposition to defame Asiwaju Tinubu.
“This inglorious path has been taken before since 2003 and in the run-up to the primaries of the ruling APC that produced Asiwaju Tinubu as the presidential torch bearer. Those who took this damned path of infamy lost their bet because Asiwaju Tinubu stands rock solid and indestructible.
Onanuga reiterated the commitment of Bola Tinubu to an issues-based campaign that’s devoid of hate speech or calumny but rather center on the needs of Nigerians.
“Our candidate has consistently said he will make this campaign about issues that affect the lives of Nigerians and how to proffer workable and enduring solutions that will improve quality of life of our people who are looking for leaders at all levels to improve their lives and sow the seeds of prosperity in our country.
“He has demonstrated this resolve by publishing an 80-page manifesto tagged Action Plan for a Better Nigeria, which he has been selling to strategic sectoral groups in the country.
“We had hoped anyone aspiring to lead our country at this time will be a natural subscriber to this noble and higher goal.
“It is clear the opposition parties and purveyors of fake news have other negative ideas: they want to make this election cycle more about muckraking and mudslinging.”
He further stressed that,the campaign council would wage war against all libellous and defamatory publications against Bola Tinubu.
“We shall no longer allow the prevailing recklessness and utter disregard for professional judgment to continue unchallenged.
“We also call on the police to investigate the circulation of the forged INEC statement and serve justice to those responsible.”