By Ekiti, Nigeria – The Ekiti State Government, in a press release on Friday, August 22, alleged that some members of the All Progressives Congress are plotting a coordinated social media attack on Governor Biodun Oyebanji ahead of the party’s governorship primaries scheduled for October 27. The release was signed by Yinka Oyebode, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor. The statement revealed that over 150 individuals, including notable influencers at the national level, have been paid to launch the attack from next week.
The statement partly read, “The sponsors of this grand plot, sadly, are members of the ruling APC, who are bent on heating up the polity in a bid to make a cheap political point. Part of their grand design, as uncovered, is to discredit the governor as well as some key figures within the party and the government through spurious and malicious allegations, including forged documents and AI-generated graphics.” The statement indicated that those responsible for the planned campaign are the same individuals accused of orchestrating an attack on President Bola Tinubu last week, using the Itawure-Aramoko-Igede road in the state as a cover.
The statement further explained that while the poorly coordinated social media attack on the President had failed miserably because most Ekiti people and the general public rejected their narratives, these individuals went back to reassess their strategy. The perpetrators devised a new plan that involved recruiting 150 social media attackers by offering them substantial sums of money in foreign currency to engage in character assassination and cheap blackmail through the online circulation of forged documents. The statement noted that the government had opted to inform the public about this plan to prevent a potential breach of peace and unnecessary tension.
Furthermore, the state government urged all political contenders, particularly those seeking public office, to uphold decorum and adhere to established rules and regulations as the electoral season draws near. The release also stated that the Governor’s administration welcomes constructive criticism and is ready to provide sincere answers to genuine enquiries about governance.
The statement concluded, “All aspirants are also urged to make their campaigns and public engagements issue-based and to steer clear of any sponsored social media attack on the person of the governor, as well as any sponsored violent attacks on any citizen of the state. As Secretary to the Committee for the Creation of Ekiti State, Governor Oyebanji understands the desires and aspirations of the founding fathers for a united people working in one accord to ensure peace, progress, and development in Ekiti. These have been the guiding principles of his administration.”
