Fayemi To Declare For Ekiti 2018, Pick Adeyeye As Deputy

Barring any last minute change of plans, the incumbent National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye, is poised to emerge as running mate to Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who is as good as clinching the All Progressives Congress, APC gubernatorial ticket.

Dr Fayemi and Prince Adeyeye met in Abuja a few days ago where the deal to use him (Adeyeye) as running mate and the APC governorship candidate in 2022 was sealed.

Already, Fayemi has secured the nod of President Muhammadu Buhari to contest the 2018 governorship election. The former Ekiti State governor was given go-ahead when he met the President alongside the Governor of Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu on October 3, 2017.

A close associate of Fayemi who craved anonymity disclosed to our reporter that the meeting between Adeyeye and Fayemi was brokered by a former Southwest governor, who is aggrieved about Governor Ayodele Fayose’s choice of his deputy, Prof Kolapo Olusola as his successor.

The source said that the meeting was even held at the Abuja residence of the former governor and the idea was to use Adeyeye to achieve two objectives, which are to douse whatever tension the non-fielding of the APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Segun Oni might cause and also deplete the PDP support base.

The choice of Adeyeye as Fayemi’s running mate as eventual successor it was believed would pacify Segun Oni’s supporters, who might be aggrieved should he lose the guber ticket to Fayemi.

Part of the deal was also the provision of not less than N100 million as running grant for Adeyeye’s radio station, Voice FM.

“Adeyeye didn’t buy the idea initially, but when he was presented with the opportunity of picking the APC guber ticket in 2022, since Fayemi has only one term to spend as governor, he agreed.

“However, he (Adeyeye) pleaded that he should be allowed to stay in the PDP till the after the party’s primary so as to enable him do more damage from within and recruit more people that will move out of the party with him. Adeyeye also promised to step up in social media campaign against Governor Fayose, boasting that by the time he finishes with the governor, no one will buy him with one kobo.

“But I must confess to you, we, the foot-soldiers of Fayemi are not happy with this arrangement because it will be slap on those of us that have remained in the APC despite being out of power in the State. We will therefore fight this with the last drop of our blood.

“Most importantly, we are aware that Prince Adeyeye is just being clever by half because he still believes that he can get the PDP ticket if his candidate for the national chairman, Otunba Gbenga Daniel emerges at the party’s convention in December,” the source said.