The Ondo State government has debunked claims linking Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to a viral video allegedly showing a case of domestic abuse.
The state government clarified that the man featured in the video is not the governor, calling the video part of a smear campaign by opposition parties ahead of the upcoming Ondo governorship election.
In a statement released on Saturday by Comrade Allen Sowore, the Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communication to the Governor, the video was described as a ploy by political opponents, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to tarnish Aiyedatiwa’s reputation.
“The opposition is resorting to desperate tactics such as blackmail, fake news, and falsehoods as Governor Aiyedatiwa gains momentum in the lead-up to the November 16, 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election,” Sowore said.
The video, which depicts a domestic altercation between a couple, was falsely attributed to Governor Aiyedatiwa, according to Sowore. However, a detailed analysis of the footage shows clear discrepancies between the man in the video and the governor.
The statement listed several distinctions:
“1. The individual in the video sports a beard, while Governor Aiyedatiwa changed his appearance over a year ago and no longer wears such facial hair.
“2. Diastema: The man in the video has a noticeable gap between his upper and lower teeth, a feature Governor Aiyedatiwa does not possess.
“3. Voice: The man’s voice in the video is loud and markedly different from Aiyedatiwa’s tone.
“4. Work History: The conversation in the video implies the man once worked in the United Kingdom, a claim irrelevant to Governor Aiyedatiwa, who has never been employed in the UK.
“5. Facial Structure: Governor Aiyedatiwa has an oval face, while the individual in the video has a rounder facial structure.
The statement urged the public to critically examine the video and avoid jumping to conclusions, emphasizing that it was a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and smear the governor’s name.
Sowore also called on those behind the video’s circulation, especially members of the PDP, to stop spreading falsehoods. He advised the opposition party to focus on resolving its internal issues rather than engaging in “cheap blackmail” to undermine Governor Aiyedatiwa’s integrity.
The statement concluded with a firm warning to the opposition to desist from using underhanded tactics, stating, “Àwon alairikanse” (people with no good intentions).
