The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 11, 2023 election, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, is facing a criminal trial for forgery of some of his submitted documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to court documents, obtained by the OBSERVERSTIMES Ododo is accused of forging his academic credentials and a declaration of age. He is alleged to have forged the signature of his supposed father on the declaration of age document, which was also dated on a Saturday and Sunday, which are official work-free days in Nigeria.
If found guilty, Ododo could face up to 14 years in prison.
The revelation of Ododo’s alleged forgery is likely to further damage his reputation and could potentially derail his campaign. It is also likely to further deepen the divisions within the APC in the state and could make it difficult for the party to win the governorship election.
The APC leadership has not yet commented on the allegations against Ododo. However, the party is already facing an uphill battle in the upcoming governorship election. The party is divided and its popularity is waning. The revelation of Ododo’s alleged forgery is likely to further damage the party’s image and make it even more difficult to win the election.
The people of the state deserve a governor who is honest, competent, and above reproach. Ododo’s alleged involvement in forgery raises serious questions about his integrity and his fitness for office.
The people of the state should carefully consider the allegations against Ododo before casting their votes in the upcoming election. They should also demand that the APC leadership take action to address this situation and ensure that the governorship race is conducted in a fair and transparent manner.