- The governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, had dumped his presidential ambition
- The governor is said to be eyeing the vice presidential slot should the Peoples Democratic Party zone it to the south west
- Fayose is said to be working tirelessly with strong PDP chieftains to ensure that a viable presidential candidate emerges from the north
The Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose, has dropped his 2019 Presidential ambition Daily Independent reports.
Fayose, whose governorship tenure would end this year is now seeking the slot for the vice president under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor had earlier declared his intention to run for president in September 2017, but a member of the PDP Board of Trustee said Fayose had noticed that his presidential ambition is not viable and decided to try the VP slot.
The BoT member said: “Fayose has seen the handwriting on the wall that his ambition is not acceptable to stakeholders in PDP, even in his home state of Ekiti and the South West, and may have quietly chosen to withdraw from the race."
READ ALSO: To assess military effort, group organises tour to Sambisa Forest
The party chieftain said the Ekiti state governor has been working with other stakeholders in PDP tirelessly to ensure that a "sellable" candidate from the north emerges as the flag bearer of the ruling party.
“Fayose is no longer in the race. He recently said the PDP is seeking a very strong presidential candidate from the North.
“That alone shows you that he has jettisoned the idea of contesting under our great party. It is a dream that can never come true.
“If he believes he has a divine mandate to contest the 2019 presidential election and defeat the incumbent president, he is free to go ahead as there are over 60 political parties in the country and many of them will be willing to give their ticket to him, not PDP,” the source said.
READ ALSO: Breaking: After brief illness, ex-governor Aliyu Akwe-Doma of Nasarawa dies
The chieftain also said that Fayose believes he is the highest ranking member of the PDP in the south west and should be consider for the position of the vice president if the slot is zoned to the region.
The source said: “From what I know, he is seeking to become a running mate to whoever gets the party’s flag in the North.
“He believes that he is the highest ranking PDP member in the South West today and as such may be considered for the position if it is zoned to the south west.
READ ALSO: Federal Government considers teaching Nigerian students in local languages - Minister
“I think he believes he stands a better chance here. The PDP is trying to match the APC fire-for-fire.
“Their national chairman (John Oyegun) is from the South-South and we have also succeeded in producing a national chairman from the south south in the person of Uche Secondus.
“So, if the APC decides to retain the vice-presidency in the South-West, I think PDP may also do the same, though many people in the party believe it should go to the south east,” he said.
But reacting to the report, the special assistant to the governor on public communication, Lere Olayinka, said the claim is false.
Olayinka the presidential ambition of his principal is still intact.
He added that the governor had made a public declaration on his ambition and would do same if he was no longer nursing the ambition to contest.
Olayinka said: "No, he has not withdrawn from the 2019 presidential race on the platform of the PDP."
“He is still very much in the race. When he was going to declare, he did it openly. So, if he is going to withdraw from the race, he will also make it public,” Olayinka said.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
NAIJ.com earlier reported that Fayose had accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plans to scuttle his presidential ambition.
The Ekiti state governor said he was sure of his imminent defeat against President Muhammadu Buhari in the forthcoming 2019 presidential election.
Fayose added that the ruling party had nothing to offer Nigerians and he wouldn’t be intimidated into abandoning a “divine project” of rescuing the country from maladministration.
2019 Presidency: Fayose versus Buhari, who will you vote for? - on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng