Former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose Declined APC Invitations from Tinubu and Buhari
Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has opened up about his political journey, revealing that both ex‑President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu personally urged him to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). Despite repeated appeals, Fayose said he refused every invitation.
In a recent video interview, Fayose recounted how the overtures came at different times. He said Tinubu reached out to him about five years ago, when former Governor Kayode Fayemi was preparing to return to office. The APC leader invited Fayose to join the ruling party, but he declined.
Fayose added that Buhari also made a similar request during his presidency. He said he turned down that offer as well, even after being taken to meet the then National Chairman of the APC, where party officials tried to persuade him to change his mind.
The former governor stressed that he made his position clear: he would not work with Buhari or become a member of the APC. He recalled that some party figures promised him political control of Ekiti State if he joined, but he was not interested in such assurances.
Fayose also reflected on his tenure as governor, describing it as a period marked by tension, conflict, and unrest. He said he never experienced peace while in office and felt unhappy when political control slipped from him after leaving the governor’s seat.
He admitted that the struggle to retain power left him physically injured, noting that his current spine problem originated from the political battles that followed the election. Despite those hardships, Fayose said his perspective has shifted.
He now views the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji as a positive development for Ekiti State. Praising Oyebanji’s leadership, Fayose remarked that the current governor has brought a new direction to the state, contrasting it with the turmoil he experienced during his own term.
Fayose concluded with a reflective statement: “I was governor for seven and a half years; I never had peace. The state was governed in turmoil and confusion. Tinubu called me and told me to come and join APC. I said I won’t join… Today, God who sees tomorrow has produced you for me.”
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