2027: Why I joined APC – Fayose

A son of former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, named Boluwatife Fayose, has said he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) because of his admiration for the current governor, Biodun Oyebanji, and not because of his father.

Boluwatife said this while speaking to APC leaders and members in Irepodun/Ifelodun State Constituency 2 in Ekiti State. The party members had just confirmed him as their consensus candidate for the State House of Assembly seat.

The confirmation happened during a constituency meeting held in Iworoko Ekiti, which is located in the Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area.

Boluwatife was presented to party leaders by the APC leadership from Afao ward after the party decided that the Assembly ticket for the constituency would go to Afao ward.

While speaking, Boluwatife thanked the party leaders and members for their support. He also said his father, who is not a member of APC, sent his greetings to those present.

He explained that joining APC was his personal decision and that his father did not influence it.

According to him, Governor Oyebanji’s good character and love for the people of Ekiti State inspired him to join the party. He added that the party’s main focus now is the upcoming governorship election scheduled for June 20.

Boluwatife promised to work closely with the people of the constituency and cooperate with the current lawmaker to ensure success in the election. He also said he would make sure everyone is included and no one is left out.

The chairman of Afao ward, Hon. Fatai Anjorin, who introduced Boluwatife to party leaders, said he was the only person from the ward who showed interest in contesting the Assembly seat.

Party leaders from the six wards in the constituency confirmed his nomination by raising his hand in support. The ward chairmen included representatives from Afao, Iworoko, Igbemo, Awo, Iropora/Eyio/Esure, and Are.

The Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, also spoke at the meeting. He explained that the Assembly ticket was zoned to Afao ward in order to promote fairness among the six wards in the constituency.

He said that since 1999, Afao and Awo wards have never represented the constituency in the State House of Assembly, while the other wards have had the opportunity. Because of this, the party decided it was Afao’s turn.

Olatunbosun added that the national leadership of APC allows candidates to emerge through either direct primaries or consensus. He explained that the party decided to use the consensus method for this process.

He said the decision to support Boluwatife Fayose would be communicated to the party leadership at the state level for final confirmation.