Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has reacted to the call for his expulsion by the Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Naija News had earlier reported that the party’s caretaker committee chairman, Dare Adeleke, announced the decision during a submission to the Chief Tom Ikimi-led PDP disciplinary committee.
The recommendation comes as the party accused Fayose of engaging in anti-party activities, particularly for his public endorsement of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s second-term bid.
Despite being a member of the PDP, Fayose openly declared his support for Oyebanji, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), during a recent interview.
At the inauguration of the Dehead/Faglo Road and electrification project in Ado Ekiti, Fayose reiterated his support for Oyebanji’s re-election, further straining relations within the PDP.
In response to the recommendation for his expulsion, Fayose expressed indifference, stating that Adeleke does not possess the authority to recommend his expulsion.
Speaking through his aide, Lere Olayinka, Fayose dismissed the actions of the caretaker committee chairman as inconsequential.
He said, “We will soon know between him (Adeleke) and Fayose who owns the politics of Ekiti. He will be the one that will come to Ekiti from Ibadan to vote for PDP in 2026 and 2027.
“Does he (Adeleke) have that kind of power? No, he does not. His position as CTC chairman is being challenged in court. I am aware of three or four court cases saying he ought not to be CTC chairman.
“If your authority to operate is being challenged, where will you have such power to say you are recommending someone for expulsion?
“He is just like that. He makes noise. We are not bothered. He can continue, he should go to Abuja to suspend Fayose.
“I am aware of various utterances of the person who is parading himself as the CTC chairman. In the last meeting they held, he said that he had removed Fayose from the party and the party is now free for him.
“If he said he does not want Fayose – is it wrong for the person you said you don’t want in your house to go to another person’s house?”
In his recommendation, Adeleke had said Fayose’s “public declarations and serial endorsements of the opposition are a direct affront to the values and unity of our great party, hence the step.”
Adeleke, who spoke at a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, said Fayose’s actions were misleading to the public, “giving a distorted and false image of what the PDP stands for.”
He said, “The PDP has set up a disciplinary committee headed by Chief Tom Ikimi. We (CTC) have met with the committee. Our position is that Ayo Fayose must be expelled from the party.”
Speaking of the former governor’s comments, Adeleke said, “My reply is very simple, that Fayose is not a member of PDP anymore. So, whatever he says is being said to soothe or massage the ego of his boss, Oyebanji. Oyebanji is his boss now.
“If a man (Fayose) shouts on top of the roof that Oyebanji came to his house 18 times in two years – what is he (the governor) doing there? Sharing Ekiti’s money, going to Fayose to give him Ekiti’s money! What is the governor doing there?
“Fayose is a person who wants everything for himself. If Fayose is now telling the whole world he can do this, he can do that, it is because he wants another money from Oyebanji and Oyebanji will surely give it to him. He needs to say something sweet. He knows that he is doing it for something.”
The PDP CTC chairman wondered the basis upon which anybody could express support for Oyebanji who, he said, had failed Ekiti State in the last two years in the areas of infrastructure, health, security, education and others.
He said, “Where is the infrastructure here in Ekiti? I have not seen much infrastructure in the state, the roads are in a state of decadence, and the health sector is bad.
“We must confront the reality of the past two years under the present administration of Governor Oyebanji. It is regrettable that this period has been marked by a glaring lack of progress, with many areas of development and governance left unattended.”
The PDP CTC chairman condemned Fayose’s actions and encouraged him “to take the bold and honest step of officially defecting rather than openly aligning himself with an opposing party and misleading others into his self-serving interests.
“Our focus is on strengthening Ekiti PDP. Fayose’s behaviour only serves to weaken our collective efforts. As we continue this journey of rebuilding, I urge all party members to remain focused and avoid any form of distraction that could derail our progress.
“Together, we can achieve a renewed and vibrant PDP that serves the people of Ekiti with integrity and purpose.”