Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose yesterday pulled the plug on his much touted presidential ambition in next year’s election, citing the defeat of his anointed successor in the recent governorship election in the state, Professor Olusola Eleka.
Fayose said he was now more preoccupied with ensuring that Eleka succeeds in his election petition than anything else.
He spoke when he received the duo of former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and former minister, Kashim Taminu, (both presidential aspirants) who came to lobby him and delegates in the state PDP.
“As a good leader, I cannot abandon my loyal deputy whose mandate was stolen by the APC and be pursuing another ambition.
“My posters are there in a room. I am committed to the recovery of the mandate for now more than anything else.”
However, observers described Fayose’s move as a face saving move.
They said that he stands no chance whatsoever in the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential primaries since the ticket is zoned to the north.
They added having failed to deliver his state to the party in the recent governorship election, Fayose cannot convince anyone in the party to back him.
Fayose had not only opened campaign offices but also came out with a retinue of branded vehicles with which he planned to campaign for presidency.
The two visiting presidential aspirants boasted that PDP would regain power in 2019, and urged the Ekiti delegates to consider their candidature so as to make the dream become a reality.
