Ayo Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, has denied leaving his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), noting that he only stepped aside.
Fayose had said he was leaving the PDP and quitting partisan politics shortly after the party lost the 2023 presidential election to the ruling APC.
But in a statement on Friday, the former governor said he only stepped aside from PDP but not quitting the party.
“I am not a member of the APC and will never be a member of the party,” he said.
Fayose noted that it is important to speak the truth at all times without being affiliated with any political party.
“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 a procedure and the 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 NEC, 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.”
“I am not a member of the APC and will never be a member of the party. I have never hidden my respect for Tinubu. Notwithstanding,I believe that the 2023 presidential election is free and fair and I am entitled to my views.
“I am not interested in contesting for any political position again in my life. 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 the 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.”
