Edo 2020: Don’t Rejoin APC After Winning On PDP’s Platform - Fayose Warns Obaseki

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has warned Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State to honour his pledge to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when he wins the forthcoming September 19 governorship election, and not be looking for a flimsy excuse to return to his former party.

The governor, who was elected on the platform of the All progressives Congress in 2016, had dumped the party for the PDP following his disqualification from participating in the APC primary election in June. Obaseki had been at loggerheads with his predecessor and former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

The election is less than five weeks away but the political climate in the state is turbo-charged with the players engaging in verbal attacks.

Obaseki, who is seeking reelection on the platform of the PDP this time around, has as his main contender the APC candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who is enjoying the support of Oshiomhole; President Muhammadu Buhari; and APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Commenting on Edo politics, Fayose, a member of the PDP, wrote on his verified Twitter handle on Thursday evening, “My position is that, for obvious reasons, I am not a fan of both Gov Obaseki and Oshiomhole. That notwithstanding, I believe that Obaseki will win, but he should honour his agreement with the PDP by not returning to APC after assuming office for the second term for flimsy excuses.”

The former Ekiti governor would later deny saying Governor Obaseki will lose his re-election bid.

Fayose in a statement by his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, on Thursday, was responding to a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, who had berated him for allegedly making the prediction.

In his reaction, Fayose said although George does not deserve his response, he needed to set the record straight to avoid being misinterpreted.

“He may have deliberately read different meanings to what I said obviously because of Political gains he wants to make out of it and I care less. My position is that, for obvious reasons, I am not a fan of both Gov. Obaseki and Oshiomhole. That notwithstanding, I believe that Obaseki will win, but he should honour his agreement with the PDP by not returning to APC after assuming office for the second term for flimsy excuses.

“It is equally important for Chief Bode George to know that I am not the mouthpiece of South West PDP. I speak for myself and I take responsibility for whatever I say. Above all, we still remember his negative statement concerning PDP on Ekiti, Osun and Rivers States elections. We still have the audio and it is a reference point that we will never forget.

“Pa Bode George should take a rest now,” he said.