PDP convention: I may quit PDP, Fayose threatens

 

OUTGOING governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has threatened that he could leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following the conclusion of the party’s national convention in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, recently.

 

Governor Fayose gave the hint, on Monday, when he spoke with some journalists on the aftermath of the parties convention concluded last weekend.

He said, “I may renounce my membership of the party if the need arises.”

Sources claimed that Fayose and some other governors had thrown their weight behind Governor Aminu Bello Tambuwal of Sokoto State, with the sources claiming that they wanted a presidential candidate that would not be haunted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), during the electioneering campaign.

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But against the alleged position of the governors, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar defeated all comers to clinch the ticket, scoring 1,532 votes of the delegates to the convention.

However, in what appears to be his first official reaction to the convention, on Monday, Fayose said: “we have no regret aligning with Governor Nyesom Wike (of Rivers State) to support Governor Tambuwal for the presidential ticket and no apologies either.”

According to Fayose, “we kept the party alive and strong when most men became ladies. We never compromised. If any group feels it can do it alone, we will see how far they can go.

“I may renounce my membership of the party if the need arises. In the meantime, I and others will continue with our consultations while watching the turn of event.

“We cannot but appreciate leaders that have intervened so far, but this release became necessary to avoid fresh crisis or misrepresentation.”

Governor Fayose has largely been quiet since the national convention and none of his aides has been willing to discuss the lull from the otherwise active governor since the convention was concluded.