APC, PDP Set To Clash Over Choice Of Fayose As NGF Deputy Chairman

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have given an indication that they will oppose the nomination of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State as Deputy Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

THISDAY gathered that possibility of Fayose emerging as the deputy chairman of NGF is already generating controversy based on the alleged role of the Ekiti State governor in the rancorous 2015 presidential campaign against the APC Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

But Fayose has fired back, saying it was the consensus opinion of his PDP colleagues to nominate him, adding that the APC has no reason to interfere since PDP did not dictate their choice of the chairman of NGF.

Fayose who reacted to the alleged concern of some APC governors, said though he remains the longest serving governor among the lot, he is not desperate to become the deputy chairman of the NGF.

However, according to a close source to one of the APC governors in one of the North-central states, the choice of Fayose by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is being seen as unpalatable and fraught with hidden agenda.

The APC governors have therefore declared his choice as unacceptable by the party, the source said.

The source further said APC is wary of the controversial governor’s attitude and would not accept him to occupy such a sensitive position, and would rather the PDP find another replacement for him.

“I wonder why the PDP thinks the Ekiti State governor should be the best choice for the deputy chairman of the forum when they could not accept him as the chairman of their PDP Governors’ Forum. The choice is unacceptable to us and we would oppose it when we meet on Wednesday,” the source stated
He recalled the controversial nature of Fayose, noting that the governor had remained a divisive factor during and after the electioneering.

According to him, the APC was not averse to the PDP fielding a level headed governor to deputise for the chairman of the forum, but “certainly not Governor Fayose that is given to reckless and inciting statements and actions.”