“Associating with PDP shameful,” Fayose delivers damning verdict on his party

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Former Ekiti Ayo Fayose has come down heavily on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the party on which platform he was elected as governor two times. Fayose spoke against background of crises that have led to exit of key chieftains of PDP including a former Vice President and its 2023 presidential candidate, Abubakar Atiku from the party.

While affirming that the PDP which was the biggest Nigeria’s political party from 1999 to 2015 is now a shadow of its former self, Fayose said it is now shameful to associate with the party.

He said the party cannot make any significant impact in the 2027 election.

“Associating with PDP today is shameful enough. The party is too weak to take a grab of anything lately. PDP is not an issue for now. With more prayers, PDP will end up in the fourth position,” Fayose said while speaking on Channels TV programme on Friday.

The former Ekiti governor said the once dominant party has been weakened by internal crisis and alienation of its long-standing members.

“In most states, they are already compromised. They have eased out so many leaders. It’s good for them, but let me remind you, I was part of the G5.”

The former Ekiti governor also blamed the leadership of the party for its current state, accusing them of sabotage through “repeated acts of disrespect” against loyal members like himself.

“I have paid my dues in PDP. You cannot continue to match a man like me. I don’t have friends in PDP. I came to PDP alone.

“How will a party undermine you—a two-term governor—you have done everything humanly possible to sustain, and they undermine you—I should be clapping for them? Forget that,” Fayose said.

Fayose also tackled former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. He added that Atiku moved to the African Democratic Congress, ADC because he was sure of getting the party’s ticket.

“Atiku knew he was going to get the ticket of PDP, that was why he moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC),” Fayose claimed.

The former governor who has not hidden his support for President Bola Tinubu also said he will not have any problem of Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, gets the presidential ticket of PDP for the 2027 general elections. He said Nigerians will decided if they will vote for the PDP candidate. “If Governor Makinde becomes the flag bearer, Nigerians will decide. I have no issue with that.”

Fayose also said he has never hidden his political leaning, even when he was in office as the candidate of the PDP.

When I was a sitting governor, I did not hide my support for Tinubu. I visited him severally as a sitting governor,” he said.

He declared support for the plan by the PDP to zone its presidential ticket to the Southern part of the country in 2027, in spite of the fact that he believed that the party will not make any significant headway in the election.

“Pretenders can pretend, but you know that the PDP has messed up. Managing the party has become an issue. Everybody in that party today has become, ‘to your tents, O Israel!’” he said.