Akintunde Armstrong, a leader from Ogun State’s All Progressives Congress (APC), said he did not try to choose councilor candidates for Iperu Wards 3 and 5 in Ikenne Local Government Area.
On Thursday, a report claimed that Armstrong was using his money and power to make his supporters, Olaleye Babatunde and Osularu Olabanjo Muyiwa, the councilor candidates for the party in the upcoming local government elections on November 16.
The report also said Armstrong boasted that even Governor Dapo Abiodun, who lives in one of these wards, could not stop him.
But on Friday, Armstrong, who is from Iperu Remo, said he never planned to use $80,000 to make sure his two supporters got the councilor positions.
He explained that the report was “just lies made up by opponents to ruin my image and mislead people for cheap political wins.”
“I am very surprised and shocked by these false and silly rumors spread by some opposition people,” Armstrong said.
“Who would, in their right mind, in this tough economy, brag about spending $80,000 (which is about N120 million) to choose councilor candidates? It’s just ridiculous lies.”
“They even claimed I said the governor can’t stop me. Isn’t that just silly? Governor Dapo Abiodun is my leader and mentor; he leads our party, and I follow him. So, their stories are untrue and just meant to make me look bad to the governor.”
He explained that the video people were talking about was about the funds the Dapo Abiodun Continuity Agenda has set aside to help and support party members, something they have been doing everywhere in the state since 2019.
Armstrong promised his loyalty to the governor and the party and said he would help the party pick the best candidates and win the upcoming local government elections by a big margin.