Ekiti: Fayose made wrong choice backing Oyebanji – PDP guber candidate Oluyede

Dr. Wole Oluyede, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Ekiti State, criticised former governor Ayodele Fayose for endorsing incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji. Oluyede said the governor’s track record does not justify such support.

Speaking at a journalist briefing in Ado‑Ekiti, Oluyede dismissed the notion that Fayose’s political influence would decisively shape the upcoming election. While acknowledging Fayose’s right to back any candidate, he argued that the former governor had made a poor political judgment by backing the current administration.

Oluyede maintained that endorsements should be grounded in tangible achievements and governance outcomes. He highlighted shortcomings in security and infrastructure as evidence that the present administration has failed to meet expectations.

“I respect Fayose and his right to support whoever he wants. We have no personal issues. But if you ask me, he has made the wrong choice in supporting this government,” Oluyede said.

The candidate expressed surprise that Fayose would endorse the administration given what he described as glaring governance deficiencies. He argued that the benchmark for evaluating government performance should be higher, noting that the endorsement raises questions about the standards being applied.

“I am disappointed because it suggests that the threshold for endorsing a government has become very low. If you look at the realities on the ground, particularly in security and public service delivery, there is little basis for such an endorsement,” he stated.

Oluyede made clear that he would not confront Fayose over his political stance, saying the former governor is entitled to his convictions just as anyone else is. He stressed that the outcome of the governorship election would ultimately be decided by the people of Ekiti, not by political endorsements.

“The people will decide. This election will not be won by endorsements or political declarations. Ekiti people are intelligent and will assess the performance of those seeking their mandate,” he said.

The PDP candidate also raised concerns about the state’s security situation, claiming that many residents now live in fear due to rising criminal activity. He criticised the government’s inadequate response to security challenges, the poor condition of police facilities, and the lack of modern security infrastructure needed to combat crime effectively.

According to Oluyede, no government can claim success when citizens are afraid to move freely or attend social and community functions. He questioned the utilisation of security funds allocated to the state, insisting that greater transparency and accountability are required in managing public resources devoted to security.

On national politics, Oluyede reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu, stating that his backing for the president predates current political alignments and is based on the belief that Tinubu remains the best person to lead Nigeria at this time. He recalled supporting Tinubu’s presidential ambition before joining the APC, insisting that his position was driven by conviction rather than political expediency.

While acknowledging the economic and governance challenges facing the country, Oluyede maintained that the president’s efforts would yield greater results if state governments effectively translated available resources into improved security, infrastructure and public services for citizens.