The family of late Dr Paul Akintelure has denied endorsing any All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ondo State.

Akintelure’s family made this clarification in a statement by his brother, Oladapo Akintelure, in Abuja.

The late Akintelure was one of the frontline governorship aspirants of the APC in Ondo State before his demise on Tuesday March 26, 2024.

Akintelure’s death occurred amid preparations for the APC governorship primary election scheduled for April 25.

The statement reads: “The attention of the family of late Otunba Dr. Paul Akintelure (DPA) has been drawn to various media reports on purported endorsements of Gubernatorial Aspirants of the All Progressives Congress vying for the party’s candidacy in the upcoming governorship elections of the state.

“We wish to unequivocally state that the DPA family is neither directly nor indirectly involved in these acts of political endorsements.

“We have not directed anybody or any group to engage in such endorsements in the name of the family or in the name of our late icon Dr. Paul Akintelure (DPA).

“We vehemently disapprove of any individual or group endorsing aspirants in the name of DPA structure, and we urge them to desist from such actions.

“We are aware that the forthcoming primary election is of great importance to all indigenes and non-indigenes of Ondo state alike.

“This primary election marks the first step in democratically selecting a preferred candidate who will champion the developmental course of Ondo state.

“We also recognize that loyalists, supporters, and friends of DPA, who collectively form the DPA Structure, will have a keen desire to participate in this democratic process of the APC primary election.

“Please exercise your franchise freely and legitimately in your best interest and that of our dear Sunshine State as individuals, but not in the name of DPA or its structure whatsoever.

“Thank you for your support as we prepare to bid farewell to our dearly beloved DPA.”