Thousands of Ekiti residents took a break from work on Wednesday to celebrate Governor Ayodele Fayose’s third year in office, and send a message to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, that another defeat awaits them in the 2018 governorship election in the small and impoverished state. It is exactly three years ago today, on 21 June 2014 that Mr. Fayose, then a member of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) defeated Governor Kayode Fayemi of the APC.
Although APC controls the Federal Government in Nigeria, in the southwestern state of Ekiti, Mr. Fayose’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been in power since 2014.
Mr. Fayose defeated Mr. Kayode Fayemi of the APC, winning 16 local governments out of 16 during an election monitor by a correspondent of this newspaper.
It was, as can be recalled, the first time that an incumbent governor was so severely demolished at the polls in Nigeria, losing everything and winning nothing.
But three years have gone and Mr. Fayose is now preparing to vacate office next year, and time for campaign for new elections has begun.
Governor Fayose addressed the mammoth crowd on Wednesday and declared open the situation office for the 2018 election, vowing that the APC will again be defeated next year.
Nigerian governors are elected for a four-year term. They can only complete two terms of four years. But Mr. Fayose, who had been governor in the past, but was impeached, is barred by a previous ruling from contesting again, a move he is opposing in court.
In front the mammoth crowd on Wednesday, Mr. Fayose charged Ekiti residents to shame those who claimed that his June 21, 2014 victory was as a result of rigging.
“Today, I am here to appreciate all of you and remind you that they said that the 16-0 of 2014 (election victory) was photochromic and later militarized election,” he said to a thunderous ovation.
“This time, they are the owners of INEC, Army, Police, Civil Defense, DSS and others; we should make it expressly clear that despite these machineries in their hands, we can defeat them like we did in 2014, if not more,” he added.
He assured that he will leave no stone unturned to make Ekiti a better place for all, adding that “by the grace of God, I will not leave this state a debtor of salary”, a reference to billions of debts left by the former governor of Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi.
The governor urged Nigerians as well as the international community to pay greater attention to Ekiti State before, during and after the 2018 governorship election.
According to him, “the 2018 election in Ekiti is one election that everyone should be interested in. The whole world should monitor events before, during and after the election and let whoever that will win the election win in a free and fair atmosphere.”
“Currently, I am in court to seek redress for the coup-d, etat of 2006 by the declaration of State of Emergency by the civilian junta of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. It is my belief that the court that granted me the relief that the impeachment was a nullity will equally restore justice by establishing the fact that I deserve another tenure.
“Nevertheless, whether the continuity is by Ayo Fayose or any member of his political family, it is still continuity, which I have asked you to support.”