Aro, a candidate for Offa Local Government Area chairmanship, called the party’s local government primary elections a farce and charged the electoral commission with mocking and undermining the public’s confidence.

Alhaji Tajudeen Aro, the former Kwara State Publicity Secretary for the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been suspended for charging the organisation with dishonesty and insincerity.

Aro, a candidate for Offa Local Government Area chairmanship, called the party’s local government primary elections a farce and charged the electoral commission with mocking and undermining the public’s confidence.

For the party’s local government elections, he said, no primary poll was held.

“Should a party function in this manner? They wish to rig the election, which is why they are impeding party members’ efforts. Given that this is inappropriate behaviour for party members, it is indicative of anti-party behaviour,” he stated.

“They are ruining the celebration. We need to be transparent in our party since we do not belong to a hidden club; for this reason, we have a party constitution. Someone is asserting their power over me, and they disregarded the constitution.”

He claimed that the party’s state chapter was not abiding by its charter.

“People ought to question them about whether they are actually employed by the party or whether they have another underground party that they haven’t disclosed to the public.

He added that even in wards where they have no business being there, members of the House of Assembly and the Special Assistant to the Governor of Kwara State on Political Affairs are choosing council members for Offa Local Government.

“I wrote a letter to the governor in 2021 stating that the way the party was going in the state—having commissioners and Special Assistants take over party members’ responsibilities—would backfire,” he stated. The Governor has not answered as of yet.”

He clarified that they offered him N5 million to resign on behalf of his opponent when he intended to run for the chairmanship and it was clear he had more support than the other candidate.

As a party, we are not serious, and we are misleading people. People are being duped by our leaders,” he declared.

Aro, the APC’s most recent publicity secretary in Kwara State, has been suspended by the party’s Ojomu North North West Ward in the Offa Local Government Area.

Aro was accused of participating in anti-party activities in the September 15, 2024, suspension letter signed by Chairman Alhaji Layi Oyediran, Vice Chairman Mr. Oseni Ojo, Secretary Mr. Fagbemi Adeolu, Women Leader Mrs. Bunmi Opeyemi, Youth Leader Alhaji Akeem Olawale, P.R.O. Mr. Olawale Maroof, and Treasurer Kazeem Alabi.

The contents of the letter read, “In view of your recent blatant anti-party activities, attempts to create discord and divisiveness within the party, and your disregard for party supremacy, the decision-making organ of our party in Ojomu North North West Ward hereby suspends your membership of the party with immediate effect.”

“This suspension letter is duly authorised by the undersigned members of the Central Working Committee and the PRO of the party in Ojomu North North West,” the statement ended.