Fayose: Our Party Members Are Not Guaranteed To Win Elections

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has justified his support for President Bola Tinubu, asserting that it does not constitute anti-party conduct despite his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to Ireporter Online, Fayose stated on Sunday during the PDP national convention in Abuja that party membership should not automatically dictate support for a candidate. “We must not say because it’s our party member that must win when we know our party member has no capacity,” he said.

Fayose argued that political endorsements should be based on competence rather than mere party affiliation. He questioned the logic of supporting candidates solely because they belong to the same party, highlighting the importance of leadership ability in making political choices. “Would you compare a Makinde with an Asiwaju?” he asked.

The former governor also emphasised that national interest should take precedence over party loyalty, noting that political disagreements are a normal aspect of democratic practice. “Nigeria is for all of us, you are first an Ekiti man before you become a political party card bearer. All the former governors are behind the current governor,” he added.

Further defending his stance, Fayose stressed that supporting a candidate outside one’s party aligns with democratic norms, citing examples from other countries. “Obama is not supporting the Democrats, the former president is not supporting Trump, have they expelled them? No, democracy will have those differences on national issues,” he remarked.