The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ise/Orun, Ikere and Ekiti South West Federal Constituency I, Engr. Toyin Zacchaeus Okoro, has reacted strongly to claims circulating online describing him as “an Igbo man,” describing the narrative as false, mischievous, and politically motivated.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, Okoro said the controversy was being sponsored by political opponents unsettled by his overwhelming victory and growing popularity among the people.
The APC candidate stated that although he initially ignored the allegations, he decided to respond in order to set the record straight and prevent what he described as a deliberate distortion of facts about his identity and ancestry.
According to the statement signed by his Media Directorate, Engr. Okoro is a bona fide indigene of Ise-Ekiti in Ise-Orun Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
The statement explained that he was born in Ise-Ekiti, then under Ekiti South Local Government in the old Ondo State, to the family of Late Lawrence Owoseni Okoro of Odo Ise Quarters, Ise-Ekiti, and Chief Mrs Deborah Omolara Okoro from Oraye Quarters, Ise-Ekiti.
It further revealed that his late father, Lawrence Owoseni Okoro, served as the Secretary of Ebi Onisa-Odu, Odo Ise Quarters, while the current High Chief Onisa-Odu remains the third in command to the Arinjale-in-Council, one of the highest traditional structures in Ise-Ekiti.
The statement stressed that both his paternal and maternal lineages are deeply rooted in Ise-Ekiti and well known within the community, insisting that his identity as a Yoruba man has never been in doubt throughout his lifetime.
“These well-known family backgrounds and longstanding traditional affiliations clearly establish Engr. Okoro’s identity as a true son of Ise-Ekiti,” the statement noted, adding that attempts to portray him differently were merely desperate political propaganda.
The APC candidate also highlighted his educational and leadership background, stating that he attended St. Theresa Catholic Primary School, Erinwa Quarters, Ise-Ekiti, where he served as Assistant Senior Prefect Boy, before proceeding to Akinluse Comprehensive High School, Oraye Quarters, Ise-Ekiti, and later the Institute of Basic and Professional Studies, Ado-Ekiti.
He subsequently gained admission into the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), where he became actively involved in student unionism and leadership.
According to the statement, Okoro served as President of the Federation of Ise Students Union (FISU) in 1995 and later emerged as the Pioneer President of the Federation of Ekiti State Students Union, FUTA Chapter, in 1996 shortly after the creation of Ekiti State.
The statement also traced his political history, noting that Okoro has been involved in grassroots politics in Ekiti for decades.
It recalled that he was a pioneer member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in 1998 and one of the loyal political associates of Senator Dayo Adeyeye. He later became Coordinator and Youth Leader of the party in Ise-Orun before serving as Coordinator of Ekiti Youth for Adebayo (EYOFA), Ise-Orun Chapter, in 2003.
In 2011, Okoro contested as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Ekiti State House of Assembly seat representing Ise-Orun Constituency and also served as former Secretary of the PDP in Ise-Orun Local Government.
The statement maintained that his political journey, service to the people, and acceptance among traditional rulers, community leaders, youths, and stakeholders across the constituency clearly demonstrate his longstanding ties to Ekiti State.
Describing the controversy as an attempt to weaponize his surname for political gain, the statement condemned ethnic politics and urged the public to reject divisive propaganda.
“The Yoruba people are known for fairness, inclusiveness, merit, and integrity. Ekiti people are enlightened and cannot be deceived by cheap ethnic propaganda,” the statement added.
The APC candidate insisted that the overwhelming support he received during the party primary election was based on his accessibility, credibility, competence, and long-standing relationship with the people.
The statement concluded by urging members of the public to disregard what it called “false and misleading claims” aimed at distracting from the mandate freely given to Engr. Toyin Zacchaeus Okoro by APC members and constituents.
“No amount of propaganda can erase his roots, identity, contributions, or acceptance among the people of Ise-Ekiti and Ekiti State at large,” the statement concluded.
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