Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has disclosed the reason he turned down an invitation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fayose made the revelation during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television political programme aired on Friday. According to the former governor, President Tinubu personally invited him to join the APC, but he respectfully declined the offer.
“I recall very well that the president asked that I should come to APC and I said no,” Fayose stated during the live interview.
TJ News Nigeria gathered that Fayose’s decision was based on a long-standing commitment to his political beliefs and affiliations, despite his open respect for the president.
‘I Never Hid My Respect for Tinubu’
Fayose emphasized that his admiration for President Tinubu has always been public, even when both men were in different political camps.
“When I was a sitting governor, I didn’t hide my respect and support for Tinubu, I never did,” he said.
“I visited him severally as a sitting governor. I recall when he had a knee injury; I went there openly to say hello to him. He wasn’t president at the time—Buhari was.”
The outspoken PDP chieftain said his political stance has always been transparent, asserting that Nigerians have always known where he stands on national issues.
‘Supporting My Kinsman With Capacity’
Fayose defended his consistent political ideology, including his past alignment with the G-5 group—comprising five PDP governors who opposed the party’s presidential zoning formula during the 2023 elections.
“I was part of the G-5, I wasn’t the only one at the time. We had sitting governors. So, it’s not whether I’m trying to find my feet—I was very clear,” he said.
Explaining his backing of President Tinubu, Fayose questioned the logic of opposing a capable leader from one’s ethnic group:
“When your kinsman wants to be president and he has capacity, what should you do? Fight him? Throw him under the bus? I have been like this.”
Unity Among Ekiti Leaders
Fayose also pointed out an unusual development in Ekiti State politics, noting that for the first time in Nigeria’s history, all former governors are united in their support for the current state administration.
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“Go back to Ekiti—every former governor has their homesteads, and the governor is being supported by all of them. This is the first time in the history of this country.”
PDP Heading for Fourth Place in 2027?
In a separate comment, Fayose reiterated his concerns about the PDP’s internal crisis, predicting a poor showing in the next general elections.
“The PDP is still in crisis. If things don’t change, the party will likely finish fourth in the 2027 general elections,” he warned.
Fayose’s remarks highlight the deepening rift within Nigeria’s major opposition party and signal his growing disenchantment with its leadership trajectory.
