Fayose Talks About Tinubu's Approach and the 2018 Ekiti Election Loss

A former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has said President Bola Tinubu was "magnanimous" during the Osun State governorship election on August 15. He believes the Federal Government could have influenced the results if it wanted to.

Fayose also claimed that the Federal Government used its power to take Ekiti State from him during the 2018 governorship election.

He made these comments on Tuesday while speaking on TVC News. This was in response to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who said he could have helped Tinubu win the Osun election for the All Progressives Congress if the President wanted victory "at all costs".

In the election, the current Osun governor and Accord candidate, Ademola Adeleke, won with 511,067 votes. He defeated APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who got 444,815 votes. The African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.

Adeleke won in 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won in the remaining 11.

Fayose spoke about the tight race, saying it could have gone either way. He praised Adeleke and urged him to be "magnanimous in victory".

He said, "The only thing I heard towards the election was that the federal government will take it by force. If the federal government wants to take an election, they will take it."

Fayose explained that the situation in the Osun election was different from what he faced in 2018 during the Ekiti election.

"Let me give you an example. Ekiti was taken from me in 2018. By all means possible. Those conditions did not happen in Ede."

He recalled that three days before the election, the government house was blocked. He said he could not communicate with anyone on the phone.

"All my security details were taken away. I was left alone for three days. That is when you are talking about federal influence."

Fayose also claimed that security agents stopped him from leaving the Government House three days before the election. He said he was attacked when he tried to go outside.

"Three days before the election, I wanted to march with over 60,000 supporters. Security personnel stopped me. I told them I am the governor. An inspector said, ‘Governor my foot.’ They prevented me from leaving. They hit me with the butt of the gun, and I fell down. My deputy had the same experience."

Fayose said that incident caused him serious injuries and he had to undergo four surgeries.

Despite this, Fayose praised Tinubu for his different approach to elections. He said the President showed that it is possible to have elections where votes truly count.

"If not for Tinubu, who has been magnanimous, how would we communicate on social media? Have you seen him trying to arrest anyone? We should thank God for this kind of president."

Fayose said Tinubu's appointments of the Independent National Electoral Commission chairman, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Chief of Army Staff do not mean the President will use these positions to manipulate elections.

"Tinubu today has appointed the INEC chairman. He has appointed the Inspector General of Police. He has appointed the Army Chief."

He added, "People tell me that this combination will not take an election if they want to. It is the president’s body language that matters. His body language is telling everyone that democracy should survive."

Fayose also denied that his support for Tinubu and his recent appointment as chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency board means he is planning to join the APC.

He said his support for the government is not personal but aimed at helping the country develop.

"I have always supported the President since I was in office, about 15 years ago. We have always related, even when we were in different parties."

Fayose concluded, "It’s a call to serve for those who truly want to serve. I will do my best to make a mark."