Ekiti:”We Will ‘Confront’ Oyebanji, Fayose Says; Remains In PDP

Ayodele Fayose, a former Governor of Ekiti State, says he remained a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The former governor made this known on Monday while addressing his supporters in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

Critics of the former governor said Fayose must have made the clarification due to suggestion that he has been inactive in the PDP for some time.

Recall that Fayose supported Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential bid during the 2023 presidential election against the position of his party.

He had argued that it was the turn of the South to produce the nation’s president following the expiration of then President Muhammadu Buhari.

Also, Fayose’s critics say the former governor’s influence in the state PDP has been seriously whittled down due to the struggle between him and Senator Biodun Olujimi for the control of the soul of the party in the state.

But. the former governor said he has not relinquished his membership of PDP, stressing that he will lead the party against the incumbent, Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC in the next governorship election.

According to him, his robust relationship with Oyebanji will not stop him from leading the PDP to victory in the next election.

Ayodele Fayose, on Monday, dismissed insinuations that he had dumped the opposition Peoples Democratic Party for the governing All Progressives Congress.

Fayose, who said he would never join APC, appealed to PDP members to stop maligning his character and person and cautioned them against politics of bitterness.

The former governor, who spoke in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, while addressing his supporters, urged party members to close ranks, embrace peace and discourage divisions and factions among them in a bid to defeat APC in the next governorship election in the state.

“PDP must not die” in Ekiti state, the governor said adding that the campaign to oust Oyebanji has started already.

He said: “I have come to tell you that the PDP must not die in Ekiti State. I want you to have peace, please don’t destroy my personality.

“When we come to election period, we will fight BAO (Governor Biodun Oyebanji). The PDP is not in order in Ekiti, let us come together.

“BAO is a humble governor. Thirteen times, he has visited me in Lagos to greet me. We discussed the progress and development of the state. I have to respect him, that has nothing to do with politics. He is the only governor that has brought all governors in the state together.

“When it is time for election, we will confront him. I am a landmark governor in Ekiti State. We supported Asiwaju in the last presidential election because he is a Yoruba man, and it’s time for our Presidency.”

Meanwhile, those watching the PDP in the state insist that the former governor’s soul has left the party, that he’s just using the opposition party as a bargaining chip to get leverage in the ruling APC.