How we floored Fayose in Ekiti - Ayo Arise

- Senator Ayo Arise has disclosed how he and other APC chieftains worked to prevent Governor Ayo Fayose from installing his deputy as his successor

- The APC chieftain said they decided that enough was enough, and that Fayose had overstayed his welcome in Ekiti politics

- He provided a breakdown of those who worked against Fayose in their localities; and insisted that there was no manipulation of the election

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ayo Arise, has explained how he and other stalwarts of the ruling party in Ekiti worked to prevent the state governor, Ayodele Fayose, from installing his deputy, Prof Kolapo Olusola Eleka, as his successor.

In an interview with The Point, the former lawmaker said he and other APC stalwarts resolved not to allow Fayose impose Eleka on the state.

Legit.ng gathers that the former lawmaker disclosed that APC chieftains in Ekiti, some of whom were previously allies of Fayose and had even worked for his re-election in 2014, concluded that Fayose had overstayed his welcome in Ekiti politics. He said he and his cohorts ensured that Fayose’s anointed successor did not succeed in any of their localities.

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Arise stated: “Now, I want to say there have been several elections since Buhari became the president. I am sure you remember Anambra election took place. The government at the centre is APC, the government in Anambra is APGA.

“So, there has been no manipulation of election since Buhari became the president of this country. And security was equally provided in Anambra. So, there is no relationship.

“Fayose has overstayed his relevance in Ekiti; that is a fact. And those of us who worked to put him there have said enough is enough, and we worked to remove him. However narrow the margin is, everybody held on to his locality to deliver, and we delivered.

“So, when you now look at Ado, where he had a home run the other time, it became impossible for him to have a home run this time. Don’t forget, Senator Babafemi Ojudu is from Ado, he has his own strong presence there. Senator Raji Rasaki is from Ado, she worked for Fayose in 2014 election. In this last one, she worked against him.

“Don’t forget that the deputy to Fayemi is from Ado. He is the former chairman of Ado local government. He is a high chief in Ado and he is running a school in Ado, where many of the children, many Ado youths, attend. Those who could not afford the school fees were given free education. So by far, Bisi Egbeyemi is very popular; a known name.

“All these factors combined, ensured that Fayose had no home run. Even though he is from that local government area; he is not from that town, but from a small village very close to Ado. He can’t boast of 5,000 votes where he comes from. When people don’t realise all these facts, they begin to say somebody has manipulated the election. How could Fayose have won this election?”

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Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that supporters of the APC and Kayode Fayemi took to the streets in Ekiti, following his declaration as governor-elect of the state.

Fayemi won the gubernatorial election which took place on Saturday, July 14, to defeat his closest rival, Professor Kolapo Olusola of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

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Source: Legit.ng