‘Alleged Conviction, Fraud, and Code of Conduct Breaches’: APC Support Groups Reject Consensus Candidate for Ekiti South Federal Constituency

Ahead of the primary election for the House of Representatives in Ekiti State, the Coalition of All Progressive Congress (APC) Support Groups has rejected the endorsement of Mr. Toyin Okoro Zacheaus as the consensus candidate for the Ekiti South Federal Constituency.

In a petition addressed to the Chairman of the APC Screening Committee for Ekiti State House of Representatives and the party’s national leadership, the group raised serious allegations against Okoro, including an alleged fraud conviction and imprisonment in the United Kingdom around 2006, which they claim resulted in his deportation. The group also accused Okoro of breaching the Code of Conduct Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The coalition described the endorsement as “clandestine, kangaroo and unacceptable,” adding that due diligence was not followed. It urged the screening committee and the party’s national leadership to thoroughly investigate all concerns before taking any further steps regarding his candidacy.

In the petition, the group stated: “We respectfully draw your attention to the alleged clandestine endorsement of one Mr. Okoro Toyin Zacheaus as a preferred candidate for the House of Representatives seat representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency. It is important to bring to your notice certain concerns regarding the suitability of the aspirant being considered for such a critical position.”

The letter further alleged that Okoro, currently serving as a public officer in the National Assembly as a senior legislative aide, has remained the sole director of ZAC-LAWRENZ NIG LTD, a company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission. The group claimed that this constitutes a conflict of interest, adding that the same company benefited from government contracts valued at approximately 90,000,000 naira. These payments were reportedly paid into the company’s Wema Bank account number 0263360200, which the group alleged is also the same account into which his official salary is paid.

“This raises serious concern under the code of conduct provisions relating to conflict of interest,” the letter reads. “These concerns are not speculative; they are supported by documentary evidence and are capable of substantiation in a court of law. More importantly, in the present political climate, such information could easily enter the public domain, be amplified across media platforms, and be used strategically to undermine both the credibility of the aspirant and the reputation of the party.”

The group concluded by respectfully requesting that the issues be thoroughly investigated before any further steps are taken regarding his candidacy. As of press time, the APC national leadership and Mr. Toyin Okoro Zacheaus had not issued an official response to the allegations.