ABUJA — Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has commended President Bola Tinubu for allowing voters to determine the outcome of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
Fayose said the President could have influenced the outcome of the election if he had chosen to do so, arguing that the conduct of the poll demonstrated a willingness by the Federal Government to allow democratic processes to prevail.
The former governor made the remarks on Tuesday while speaking on TVC News, following comments by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who had said he could have helped the All Progressives Congress (APC) secure victory in Osun State if President Tinubu wanted to win the election “at all costs.”
The Osun governorship election was won by the incumbent governor and Accord candidate, Ademola Adeleke, who polled 511,067 votes to defeat the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who scored 444,815 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, came third with 17,180 votes.
Adeleke won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in 11.
Fayose described the margin between the two leading candidates as an indication that the election was closely contested and could have gone either way.
He also congratulated Adeleke on his victory and urged him to be “magnanimous in victory.”
According to Fayose, the outcome of the Osun election showed that the Federal Government did not deploy the level of influence which, he alleged, was used against him during the 2018 Ekiti governorship election.
He said, “If the Federal Government wants to take an election, they will take it. If the Federal Government, the ones I know of the past, if they want to take an election, there’s nothing you can do.”
Fayose recalls 2018 Ekiti election
Fayose alleged that his experience during the 2018 Ekiti governorship election was significantly different from what occurred in Osun State.
He claimed that security personnel surrounded the Ekiti State Government House in Ado Ekiti three days before the election and that his security personnel were withdrawn.
“Three days before my election, the Government House was jammed. It was jammed. You can’t talk to anyone on the phone,” he alleged.
According to him, his security details were taken to the police headquarters in Ado Ekiti, leaving him without his usual security protection during the critical period before the election.
Fayose further alleged that he was prevented from leaving the Government House to participate in a campaign march involving thousands of his supporters.
He said he resisted the restriction after informing the security personnel that he was the governor of the state.
“And I said I was going to come out at all costs. And to that day, they hit me with the butt of the gun and I went down. My deputy at the time had the same experience,” he alleged.
Fayose said he sustained injuries during the incident and subsequently underwent medical treatment.
“That was why I had the collar on my neck at the time. I wish I had that image for Nigerians to see. I had four surgeries, four procedures because of that incident alone,” he said.
Fayose says Tinubu is allowing democracy to thrive
Despite his allegations about the 2018 election, Fayose praised President Tinubu for what he described as a more democratic approach to elections.
He said the President’s conduct during the Osun election demonstrated that the administration was prepared to allow the electorate to determine electoral outcomes.
“If not for Tinubu, who has been very magnanimous in his actions, what would be the way to talk to him on social media? Have you seen him going after anybody to arrest them?” Fayose asked.
He added that Nigerians should appreciate what he described as an opportunity for democratic institutions to function without undue interference.
“Let me tell you, we have to thank God for this kind of president. He is showing us that it is possible to have an election of our dream in this country,” he said.
Fayose also argued that the President’s appointment of the heads of key institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police Force and the military, did not necessarily mean those institutions would be used to manipulate elections.
He said the “body language” of a president was important in determining how government institutions approached elections.
“Tinubu today has appointed the INEC chairman. Tinubu today has appointed the Inspector-General of Police. Tinubu today has appointed the Army Chief.
“People tell me that that combination will not take an election if they want to take it. It is the body language of a president they look at. And his body language is telling everyone that let this democracy survive,” Fayose said.
‘My support for Tinubu is not about defection’
Fayose also dismissed speculation that his support for President Tinubu and his recent appointment as chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency board could be an indication that he intends to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
The former governor said his relationship with Tinubu predates the President’s current position and insisted that his support for the administration was based on his desire to contribute to national development.
“I have always supported the President while I was in office, about 15 years ago. And with all respect to the President, I was in the office of the Governor when he was in the office of the Governor in 2003. We’ve always related. Yes, we’re in different parties,” he said.
Fayose described his appointment to the Rural Electrification Agency board as an opportunity to serve and pledged to use the position to contribute to the development of the country.
“It’s a call to serve for those who truly want to serve. It’s a call to serve. So for me, I am going to give my best.
“I will do everything possible to ensure that I make a mark,” he said.
