The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has reaffirmed its confidence in Dr. John Kayode Fayemi and Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji as loyal and committed leaders who will continue to provide direction for the party both within the state and nationally.
In a statement issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Hon. Segun Dipe, the APC described as reckless and baseless the claim by some individuals that the two leaders had abandoned the ruling party for another political platform.
Dipe said, “These are our two leaders with no history of disloyalty to the ruling party. They are not turncoats in our party. For anyone to cook up such a lie that they are porting to another party is playing dirty politics and a reckless propaganda, which should not be taken serious by anyone.”
He stressed that the duo of Dr. Fayemi and Governor Oyebanji, alongside the first executive Governor of the state, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, are at the forefront of strengthening the party in Ekiti.
“Along with the first executive Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, the trio is consolidating our party in the State and anyone not queueing behind them is not known to the Party,” he stated.
He questioned the logic of imagining the APC in Ekiti without the contributions of the three leaders. “Are we thinking of APC in Ekiti without an Otunba, a JKF or a BAO? Not at all. Could we have maintained our stronghold of APC being the living and the ruling party in Ekiti State without the trio of Adebayo, Fayemi and Oyebanji? I doubt,” he added.
Dipe urged the public to disregard what he described as “gutterly” rumours being circulated on social media about Fayemi and Oyebanji allegedly planning to defect. He described those behind the speculation as individuals who are not genuine members of the APC and whose sole aim is to mislead the public and cause confusion.
“Dr. Fayemi and Gov. Oyebanji are not only leaders of the party at the state level, they are also reliable leaders of the party at the national level,” he affirmed.
Dipe concluded with a strong rebuttal: “How reasonable is it for anyone to think that Fayemi as the master builder of the house would abandon it for a rented apartment, or Oyebanji as the Number One dweller in the house would go seeking for refuge elsewhere? This is thoughtless and mindless of the rumour mongers, whose intentions are still unknown to us.”