Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has rejected the candidature of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the June 20 election, Dr. Wole Oluyede.
He reaffirmed his support for Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s re-election bid.
Fayose said he turned down a request for a meeting from the PDP candidate, saying his conscience would not permit him to hold talks that could be misconstrued by the public.
The former governor explained that he rejected the overture because he did not want to create any impression that he was reconsidering his support for the governor.
‘The PDP governorship candidate in Ekiti reached out and requested a meeting with me, but I declined. My conscience would not permit it, and I would not want any photograph from such a meeting to be misinterpreted. My position is clear. I stand firmly with Governor Oyebanji,’ he said.
Fayose, who has repeatedly endorsed Oyebanji’s re-election bid despite being a member of the PDP, said granting such a meeting could send the wrong signal to Ekiti people and trigger needless political speculation.
‘I have made my position known publicly and consistently. There is no ambiguity about where I stand. I do not want any action on my part to create confusion or suggest that I am shifting ground,’ he stated.
According to him, any photograph or report emanating from a meeting with the PDP candidate could easily be interpreted as a change in his political stance, a situation he was determined to avoid.
‘When people see political leaders together, they naturally begin to draw conclusions. I do not want a situation where Ekiti people are misled into believing that I have withdrawn my support for Governor Oyebanji. That is not the case,’ he added.
Fayose maintained that his support for Oyebanji remains steadfast, stressing that his endorsement of the governor was informed by his assessment of the administration’s performance and its impact on the state.
‘I support Governor Oyebanji because of what I have seen. Leadership should be about the interest of the people, and I believe he has demonstrated commitment to the development of Ekiti State. My support is based on conviction, not sentiment,’ he said.
The former governor noted that he had declared his position on several occasions and had no intention of engaging in activities capable of creating uncertainty about his political alignment ahead of the election.
‘I have said it before and I will say it again: my support for Governor Oyebanji is unwavering. I am not in the business of sending mixed signals to people. What I believe in, I say openly,’ the former governor added.