Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu once urged him to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), but he declined the offer, choosing instead to remain steadfast in his political convictions.
Fayose made the disclosure during his appearance on Politics Today, a political programme on Channels Television, on Friday.
According to the outspoken politician, while he has consistently shown admiration for President Tinubu and respects his leadership, his loyalty to his political beliefs has never wavered.

“I recall very well that the President asked that I should come to the APC, and I said no,” Fayose stated. “Nigerians know where I stand when it comes to politics and national issues.”
Fayose, a two-term governor under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), noted that his respect for Tinubu predates the latter’s presidency. He recounted several visits to Tinubu, including a notable one during Tinubu’s health crisis when he suffered a knee injury.
“When I was a sitting governor, I didn’t hide my respect and support for Tinubu. I stood my ground. I visited him severally, including when he had a knee injury. I went there openly to greet him. Buhari was president then,” he said.
He also criticised the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as “playing games” at the time, adding that Tinubu’s response was strategic and effective.
Fayose further clarified that his alignment with Tinubu during the 2023 elections was not opportunistic but rooted in personal conviction and regional loyalty.
“When your kinsman wants to be president and he has the capacity, what should you do? Fight him? Throw him under the bus? I have always been this way,” he said.
Addressing his role in the G5 — a group of aggrieved PDP governors who opposed the party’s presidential candidate in 2023 — Fayose maintained that his political stance was consistent and transparent.
He also praised the current political harmony in Ekiti State, noting that, for the first time, all former governors are united in their support for the sitting governor.
“Go back to Ekiti. Every former governor has their homestead there and is supporting the current governor. This is the first time in our history we’re seeing such unity,” he added.
Fayose’s remarks are expected to stir political discourse amid ongoing realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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