The governorship candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Labour Party (LP), Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha; Danladi Baido and Sen. Joel Danlami Ikenya, respectively, had accused CAN of collecting N50 million to endorse Agbu ahead of the March 11, 2023 governorship election.

The trio also described CAN in the state as a government parastatal and politicised.

Taraba CAN Chairman, Isaiah Jirapye, affirmed the endorsement, but refuted the alleged inducement.

He told journalists, yesterday, at the association’s Jalingo secretariat: “We did not just wake up from sleep to endorse the PDP governorship candidate; we went through a long process. Apart from consulting with different groups, we, as well, reached out to even legal practitioners.

“However, the association did not collect a dime from the candidate or any member of the party. CAN endorses candidates based on wide consideration. CAN did not show any preference or favouritism. CAN will be a stupid father to collect money from her son before taking decisions.”

Jirapye, who is also National Vice President of CAN and President, Christian Reformed Church-Nigeria (CRC-N), said: “The candidates, who are crying foul, were all at one time or another beneficiaries of the association’s endorsement.

“Since the endorsement, many Christian groups and clerics have come out to disassociate from the endorsement.”

Source: The Guardian