Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has declared that there will be no automatic return tickets for current members representing the state at the National Assembly, as well as those at the State House of Assembly.
The ex-governor, who stated that he was speaking the mind of former Governor Niyi Adebayo, another leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that the support of federal lawmakers and their state counterparts for the second term of Governor Biodun Oyebanji would count in their favour.
Fayemi made the declaration at a meeting he held with APC stakeholders at his country home in Isan Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of the state on Friday.
He said: “Let me sound it here for us to hear and to tell those who are not here that there is nothing like an automatic ticket for our National and State Assembly members. There is nothing like that. I am speaking on behalf of former Governor Niyi Adebayo—both of us are the leaders in the APC.
“Let the lawmakers go back home and work for Oyebanji, and that will count as continuous assessment. I hope you will pass the test.”
The former governor, who used the occasion to officially endorse Governor Oyebanji for a second term, added that the governor has done well, even in the area of appointments.
He said, “Let me say that in politics, you can’t finish the work; let us support and continue to work for our man, who is doing well as a governor, a very capable man for the job. If we support him again, Ekiti people will accept him.
“We have serious work at hand, and by early next year, INEC will announce the date for the Ekiti governorship poll. I have seen a lot of people clamoring and declaring support for the governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to run again.”
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Speaking about those who left the party in 2022 when Oyebanji was picked as the governorship candidate of the APC, Fayemi said: “Interestingly, those who were not here when I first picked Oyebanji in 2022 are already agitating for the governor’s return. These people were the ones who insisted Oyebanji should not be made governor in 2022.
“These people left our party for another to contest, and they are back now in the APC, championing the reelection of the governor. We are watching them, and we thank God they are back in the fold, but let them know that they will go and queue in line because it is some of us who supported Oyebanji when they left the party.”
The former governor noted that the door is not shut on those who may want to contest for the 2026 governorship in the APC, saying: “But don’t misconstrue me, because I am a democrat and I have contested elections three times in the state. I don’t want people to say we have closed the door of the party to whoever wants to contest.
“Anyone who is interested in contesting, knows they are capable, and can handle it, should be allowed to come out and contest. But as for my family and me, Oyebanji is our own.”
