By Ismail Azeez
All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives aspirant for Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency, Ondo State, Tajudeen Adefisoye popularly known as “Small Alhaji” has broken his silence on the controversial 2020 local government election in the state, debunking allegations that he collected ₦50 million from the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to compromise the party’s candidates in Idanre Local Government Area.
Small Alhaji explained that he decided to withdraw the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) campaign machinery in Idanre shortly before the election due to alleged attacks on party members and fears that the situation could lead to the loss of life.
He made the revelation on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, declaring that the SDP had conducted a successful primary election in 2020 and produced candidates for chairmanship, vice-chairmanship, and councillorship positions across Idanre and Ifedore.
He added that the party’s campaign was equally successful, asserting that the SDP was well-positioned to win the election in Idanre had the poll been conducted freely and fairly.
He alleged that about three weeks before the election, several SDP members began coming under attack by suspected APC thugs.
“In 2020, when Ondo State was preparing for the local government election, I was in the SDP, and the party was drawing significant support. We had many people joining the party due to my performance in the House of Representatives.”
“When the local government election approached, we had many young people contesting on the platform of the SDP across the state, particularly in Idanre and Ifedore.”
“We had a full team. We conducted a very successful primary election where we selected our chairmanship, vice-chairmanship, and councillorship candidates. They subsequently launched full campaigns across the local governments. The campaign was very successful, and based on the situation on the ground, I strongly believe they would have won by a landslide if the election had been free and fair.”
“I stood by them and supported them both morally and financially.”
“However, about three weeks before the election, the attacks began. APC thugs started targeting our SDP members. Some were severely injured, and others nearly lost their lives. I was called upon to intervene.”
“I advised our people to protest at the king’s palace and report what was happening. They did, but unfortunately, the attacks did not stop.”
“Opponents then informed Aketi [Governor Akeredolu] that I had surrounded Idanre with soldiers to rig the election. Aketi contacted the military authorities, but he was asked to speak with their commander. When he spoke with the commander, the commander referred him back to me, as I was the one who had briefed them on the security situation.”
“I didn’t realize the matter had escalated to that extent until I suddenly received a call from Aketi.”
“He was shouting at me on the phone: ‘Are you now the Chief Security Officer of the state? Alhaji, Small Alhaji! They say you are stubborn, right? Okay, I am on my way from Owo. Bring your boys out and let’s meet at Oja Oba.”
“I replied, ‘Your Excellency, if it has reached that level, please, I will speak to the boys and tell them to withdraw so your people can win. And that was exactly what I did.”
“I went to Idanre, gathered our people, and explained everything that had transpired. I told them that even if we won the election, the ongoing violence meant we could lose lives. Furthermore, even if we won, who would officially announce our victory?”
“For me, no local government election was worth losing anyone’s life. I convened a meeting with the Idanre candidates and leaders, explained the situation, and offered what little support I could. Our members in Ifedore, however, insisted on proceeding with the election because they did not face similar security threats. They contested, but unfortunately, they were still not declared winners.”
“The painful part came afterward. Some of the Idanre councillorship candidates began spreading rumors that I had sold their mandate to Aketi and collected ₦50 million. Their families, friends, and supporters believed the story, and some began to resent me thinking I had betrayed them.”
“I wanted to respond at the time, but advisors told me, ‘You are a leader. Sometimes you have to endure these things and remain silent. However, there is another aspect to this story.”
“Even before the primaries, Aketi had summoned some of us to the Government House in Abuja to discuss our expectations regarding the local government elections. He confirmed the elections would hold and asked what each of us wanted.”
“Some House of Representatives members asked for their respective local governments to be conceded to them automatically.”
“When it was my turn, I did not ask him to concede Idanre to the SDP automatically. I simply asked him to allow a free and fair election in Idanre. I told him that even if the SDP won Idanre, it would still be a win-win for him.”
“Thank God some of Aketi’s associates are on this timeline. Some were present when Aketi confronted me over this issue. This is not a story fabricated today; eyewitnesses to these events are still very much around.”
“I never collected ₦50 million from Aketi, nor did I sell anyone’s mandate. I made a tough decision at a critical moment because I firmly believed no political office was worth the blood of our people.”
“I quietly bore the blame for years because I was told that was part of leadership. Well, this is what actually happened,” he stated.