Kwara APC registration marred by forged signatures of deceased members

 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) online membership registration exercise in Tsaragi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, was on Monday embroiled in controversy following allegations that names and signatures of deceased ward executives were fraudulently included in an endorsement document.

The sensitisation programme, organised for party members from the Tsaragi Emirate, commenced with a courtesy visit to the Etsu of Tsaragi, Alhaji Abdullahi Kpotwa, before party leaders, stakeholders and ward executives converged on the Central Primary School, Tsaragi.

Addressing the gathering, the APC Leader of Tsaragi Ward, Elder Paul Tsowa Zhirin, highlighted the importance of the ongoing online registration exercise. The Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Social Investment, Hon. Saddiq Buhari, later joined the meeting and was received by party leaders.

Tension rose when a young man alleged that the signature of his late father, a former Vice Chairman of Tsaragi Ward III who died over a year ago, was forged and included on a document purportedly circulated as evidence of support for a suspended member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Yisa Gideon.

Another party member raised a similar alarm, claiming that the name and signature of a deceased Ward Public Relations Officer, who was killed during the Lata-Nna attack, also appeared on the same document. A party member from Dugbangi, the late PRO’s community, questioned the authenticity of the list and demanded clarification.

Members from Tsaragi Ward I also alleged that names of other deceased executives were included in the purported endorsement document.

Condemning the development, party stakeholders described it as a desperate attempt to mislead the party and the public. Dismissing the document, Hon. Saddiq Buhari said several ward chairmen and executives neither saw nor signed it, insisting that it was fake.

“This document is not genuine. We are not part of it, and we support all disciplinary actions taken against Hon. Gideon over misconduct,” Buhari said.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Social Development, Hon. Hajiya Mariam Imam, described the incident as “politics of filthiness” and urged the party to discipline any member found culpable.

The APC leadership, however, maintained that the primary purpose of the gathering was to sensitise members on the party’s online registration exercise, calling on members to remain united and focused on the Kwara North governorship agenda ahead of the 2027 elections.