Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu and Governor Biodun Oyebanji for second terms in office, despite his position as a key figure in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
Fayose made the declaration during a high-profile political meeting in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, calling his decision a matter of principle, not party loyalty.
“I hereby endorse publicly, without reservation, President Bola Tinubu for a second term,” he said. “I also endorse our governor, Biodun Oyebanji, and his deputy for a second term.”
He praised Oyebanji’s humility and leadership, saying his administration has brought visible progress to the state.
“I am not a member of his party and I will never be,” Fayose added. “But I stand here to say I have seen the good work. He deserves another term.”
The event was attended by former governors, National Assembly members, and other political heavyweights from the state. Fayose described the gathering as a rare display of unity and maturity across party lines.
His endorsement has sparked fresh debates within PDP circles, with many seeing it as a silent vote of no confidence in the party’s 2027 strategy.
Fayose challenged Oyebanji to match his own electoral records from previous polls. “Who will, for the first time again, become the record holder to win in all the 16 local governments and all the 177 wards of Ekiti? That is taken for granted. But when we get to the field, we will contest,” he said.
He also applauded the defection of some PDP members to the ruling All Progressives Congress, calling it a positive step. “I congratulate all the decampees. They should continue decamping. It’s a good thing as long as this governor returns for a second term,” he added with a grin. “It doesn’t matter how many decampees come over except me. I’m coming nowhere.”
Fayose hailed former Governor Segun Oni and other leaders for fostering political calm in the state. “This unity is a model for all states in Nigeria,” he said.
