Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has dismissed as baseless and politically- motivated, the controversy trailing the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate of the Deputy Governor and APC deputy governorship candidate, Mrs Monisade Afuye, ahead of the June 20 governorship election.

The controversy followed the release of particulars of governorship candidates and their deputies by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which showed Mrs Afuye sat for the WAEC examination in June 1978 at Amoye Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti.

The deputy governor obtained credits in Literature-in-English and Economics and passes in History and Mathematics.

Ekiti APC Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, dismissed the allegations as a desperate attempt by the opposition parties to gain relevance ahead of the election.

The party spokesman accused Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Action Democratic Congress (ADC) of sensationalising the issue to undermine public confidence in the ruling party, insisting Afuye met all constitutional requirements to contest as deputy governor.

Dipe said Afuye’s academic credentials were duly screened and cleared by the party and relevant authorities, stressing that the deputy governor had served the state diligently since assuming office.

He added that the APC would not be distracted by the antics of PDP and ADC, urging the opposition parties to focus on presenting their alternatives to Ekiti voters, rather than resorting to what he termed smear campaigns and recycled allegations.

However, the development has continued to attract criticism from the opposition parties.

The Southwest PDP Publicity Secretary, Chief Sanya Atofarati, in a statement yesterday, described the development as embarrassing and a “slap” on Ekiti State, which he said was widely regarded as a centre of academic excellence.

“This is a source of embarrassment for all Ekiti people. A state widely celebrated for academic excellence and intellectual prowess deserves better. It is disheartening that the APC is presenting a candidate with such a record for the sensitive office of deputy governor.

“Imagine someone who today submits a low-level and an unconvincing school certificate being expected tomorrow to represent a governor at meetings of professors and technocrats. What exactly does such a person have to offer?

“Ekiti is known nationwide as a state of scholars, a state with one of the highest concentrations of professors. It is often said, jokingly but truthfully, that almost every household has a professor. Is it not dehumanising for such a people to be represented by a mere school certificate holder?” he queried.

Similarly, Ekiti State Publicity Secretary of ADC, Gboyega Aribisogan, faulted the O’Level result submitted by Mrs Afuye to INEC, citing what he described as unresolved doubts about its authenticity.

He said Ekiti State regarded for its academic reputation, should not be led by people with questionable credentials and low education, recalling that similar concerns were raised in 2022 when she emerged as APC deputy governorship candidate.

He said: “This is not the first time these questions are coming up. As far back as 2022, when she was announced as a deputy governorship candidate of the APC, even members of her party openly discussed the doubts surrounding her qualification.

“At a point, a group of people went to the archives to verify whether she truly sat for GCE. What later emerged was that she did not complete her education at Amoye Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti which she claimed to have attended.

“Her colleagues from school reportedly said she did not finish there. Rather, she sat for GCE outside the school, and that is where the problem of a doubtful certificate started.

“Many of our professionals and alumni spoke out against her nomination then, but because of the dictatorial tendencies within the APC structure at the time, the issue was swept under the carpet and she was imposed as deputy governor.

“As we head for another governorship election, our people are talking again. At the appropriate time, people will do the needful and this can lead to another round of litigation that may truncate the ambition of both the governor and the deputy governor.” (The Nation)