Ekiti Gov reacts to alleged plan to join ADC

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has strongly denied claims that he and other political figures in the state are plotting to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under the leadership of former governor Kayode Fayemi.

In a statement released on Monday by his spokesperson, Olayinka Oyebode, the governor described the rumours as baseless and the handiwork of faceless individuals intent on sowing discord.

According to Oyebode, there is no truth to reports suggesting that Governor Oyebanji, Dr. Fayemi, and other state leaders have aligned with the recently formed opposition coalition being driven by the ADC.

The ADC coalition, unveiled earlier this month, has drawn prominent political heavyweights such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governors Nasir El-Rufai, Rauf Aregbesola, and Rotimi Amaechi, all aiming to challenge the APC’s hold on power in the 2027 general elections.

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Messrs Fayemi, Aregbesola and Amaechi all served in the Muhammadu Buhari administration as ministers, thus fuelling speculations that Mr Fayemi could also join the ADC.

The coalition aims to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

But Mr Oyebode described the allegation that APC leaders in Ekiti planned to join the coalition as another tissue of lies from the camp of some disgruntled elements in the state.

“But keeping quiet in the midst of such a bare-faced falsehood would amount to a disservice to the good people of the state, some of whom could be hoodwinked into believing the misleading report.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Biodun Oyebanji and the public office holders mentioned in the report, remain firmly rooted in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and have no link, neither do they have any plan whatsoever to join the ADC.

“While Dr Fayemi and other leaders of the party mentioned in the report are eminently qualified to defend themselves, it is on record that Dr Fayemi attended the recent APC Caucus meeting held in Iyin- Ekiti, where the caucus endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Oyebanji for a second term, a decision that was widely published in the print, broadcast and online media.

“It should also be noted that Governor Oyebanji had since inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999, remained in the progressive fold. He is one of the very few that has never moved out of the progressive movement in Ekiti State.”

He said that there are attempts by some mischief makers to use his association with Mr Fayemi to cause a rift between him and President Tinubu.

“Unfortunately for these jesters, Mr President is a strategic politician who can see through their shenanigans and hidden agenda.

“Ekiti people are urged to disregard this childish media attack, which is being sponsored by some desperate politicians interested in contesting the Governorship election in the state.

“While these desperate politicians have no clue about how to market their candidature to the Ekiti electorate or connect with the people, they have resorted to attacking the government on social media and heaping up every unimaginable and unintelligent lie against the governor in order to mask their frustrations.

“Now that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the date for the primary election, we expect them to be bold enough to come out and sell their candidature to party members and Ekitikete rather than seeking an ignoble way to gatecrash.”