Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has denied reports alleging that he and several political leaders in the state are planning to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), supposedly under the influence of former Governor Kayode Fayemi.
In a strong rebuttal issued on Monday through his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, Oyebanji said the story making rounds was “nothing but another tissue of lies from the camp of some disgruntled elements in the state.” According to him, remaining silent would be unfair to the people of Ekiti who might be misled by such a claim.
Oyebode stated, “For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Oyebanji and the public officeholders mentioned in the report remain firmly rooted in the All Progressives Congress 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 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 the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999, remained in the progressive fold. He is one of the very few who has never moved out of the progressive movement in Ekiti State.
“We are aware of a deliberate attempt by some mischief makers to weaponise Governor Oyebanji’s association with Dr Fayemi in a bid to cause a rift between the governor 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 to mask their frustrations.”
The statement added, “Now that the Independent National Electoral Commission 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 gate crash,” the governor’s media adviser stated.
