APC Primary: Fayemi speaks on the step down for Osinbajo

Ilesanmi AdekanbiJune 3, 2022

1 minute read

Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has denied the step down of Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, ahead of the Presidential primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor dismissed an online media report that he was considering stepping down for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Osinbajo was reported to have met five APC governors on Thursday night. However, an online news portal which said Fayemi was part of the meeting, also reported that the Ekiti governor was being pressured to quit the race and align with the vice president.

Fayemi however said he is favourably positioned and has the backing of real stakeholders of the party ahead of the presidential primary election to clinch the APC ticket.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Director-General of the Fayemi Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Ige, says there are attempts to de-market him as APC’s potential presidential candidate.

Mr Ige said the Ekiti governor is still in the race to clinch the ruling party’s presidential ticket and will not step down for other aspirants.

Mr Ige claimed that there was a report that Mr Fayemi and four other governors held a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, where he was pressured to abandon his presidential ambition.

Mr Ige described the report as absolutely fake, stating that no meeting took place between Mr Fayemi and any aspirant about stepping down.

“Fayemi is undoubtedly one of the leading aspirants for the position and one to watch out for in the race. He has deep trust and respect among political leaders in the party and also from colleague governors who form a critical mass in the decision-making process of the party,’’ Mr Ige added.

He stated also that Mr Fayemi would clinch the party’s 2023 presidential ticket at the primary election slated for June 6 to June 8.

He called on Mr Fayemi’s supporters to remain calm and focused and not to lose faith, “because of the lies fabricated by political detractors. No amount of late-night de-marketing will work against the Kayode Fayemi presidential project.”