Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has refuted claims that he left his party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, following the party’s loss in Saturday’s presidential election.
Fayose, who asserted that he still remains a PDP member, said that he did not resign from the party but only stepped aside.
Reports in the media had quoted Fayose as saying he is resigning from PDP and partisan politics.
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The former governor, in a statement he personally signed, titled, “I didn’t resign from PDP, I only stepped aside – Ayo Fayose,” urged Nigerians to continue to support and vote for the PDP,” especially in the governorship and houses of assembly elections”.
Fayose’s statement reads,
“I am still a bonafide member of the PDP. I only said I stepped aside because I need to speak the truth to power without the fear of my view being tainted by party colouration. Resigning from a political party has procedures and same will be followed if I strongly find the need to leave the party.
“It is important that we have somebody that can say the truth without wearing any party toga.
“I am a member of the PDP, I am a member of the PDP National Executive Committee, a member of the party caucus, member of the Board of Trustees based on my position as a former chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum. It’s a lifetime membership. But Nigeria is bigger than any party.”
Fayose also clarified that he is not a member of the All Progressives Congress and will never be a member of the party, adding, however, he deeply respects Tinubu.
He also stated that he is entitled to his view of the 2023 presidential election being free and fair.
Furthermore, he stated that he is not interested in contesting for any political position again in his life asking, “What am I going to contest for at 62? Even if I want to contest, not under APC. I have said it repeatedly that I can never join APC and I am still saying it now.”
“But I need to emphasise that Nigeria needs somebody who will say the truth at this critical period in our history.
“Again, may I conclude here that Peter Obi is the man of the season. Asiwaju won the election, but PDP was too fractured to win an election at federal level. However, at the state level, elections are local, please continue to vote and support the PDP, especially in the governorship and houses of assembly elections.
