In a surprising political twist, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has thrown his weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Biodun Oyebanji for re-election ahead of the 2027 general elections despite being a known figure in Nigeria’s opposition bloc.
Speaking at a high-profile All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, Fayose openly endorsed the incumbents, praising their leadership records and urging widespread support for their second-term bids.
“To endorse publicly, without reservation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term. That is the reason why we are here,” Fayose said to loud applause.
He continued, “And to endorse our own governor humility personified Abayomi Oyebanji, and his deputy for a second term.”
Fayose, a two-time former governor and a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emphasized that his support was based on performance, not party lines.
“I am not a member of this party (APC), and I will never be,” he declared. “This gathering is unique because all the former governors of this state, leaders, National Assembly members, and all the people who matter in this state including myself unanimously, without hiding anywhere, [endorse Tinubu].”
Challenging Governor Oyebanji to aim for an electoral landslide, Fayose called on him to match his own record of winning across all 16 local government areas and 177 wards of Ekiti State.
“Who will, for the first time again, become the record holder to win in all the 16 local governments and all the 177 wards of Ekiti? That is taken for granted. But when we get to the field, we will contest.”
The endorsement marks a rare moment of bipartisan support in Nigerian politics and is expected to spark reactions across both APC and PDP power blocs.
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