- kayode Fayemi has made known his intention to contest the Ekiti state governorship seat
- He said he will officially declare in a public rally after following the due process demanded by the APC
- Fayemi said the state government’s White Paper cannot stop him from contesting
The minister of mines and steel development, Kayode Fayemi, has officially declared interest in contesting the July 14, governorship election in Ekiti state.
Fayemi, who was the governor of Ekiti state between 2010 and 2014, told journalists in an interview at his Ishan Ekiti country home on Saturday, March 31, that he would follow due process, starting with a formal notification of his intention to the leadership of the APC and the state secretariat of the party, Vanguard reports.
NAIJ.com gathered that the minister said he organize a public declaration rally at a date to be announced after notifying the APC leadership in the state.
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He said: “Yes, I will run for the governorship of our state. As a leader of the party, I am going to follow the due process as laid down by our party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This includes formal notification of the leadership of the party, presentation of the letter of intent at the state secretariat and a public declaration.”
Fayemi said he was aware of various speculations about whether he would run for the governorship or not.
He, however, said that, with the last week release of guidelines and timetable for the July election, the right time for him to make a formal declaration and join the race has come.
He noted that the state government’s controversial White Paper could not stop him from contesting the governorship election.
INEC has scheduled April 15th for the commencement of electioneering process for the July election.
The minister had earlier addressed a crowd of party leaders from all the 177 wards of the state at the APC leaders meeting held in Ishan Ekiti, where he urged them to be united in the battle to unseat the incumbent PDP-led government.
The state chairman of the party, High Chief Jide Awe, deputy chairman, Chief (Mrs) Kemi Olaleye; state secretary, Barrister Paul Omotosho reportedly led other state, local government and ward executives as well as elders of the party to the quarterly meeting.
Fayemi said that the huge number of aspirants jostling for the APC ticket was a good development for the party.
He, however, urged all aspirants and their supporters to pursue their ambitions in a very decent manner, emphasising their credentials and plans to lift the state from its present state.
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He said it was obvious the PDP-led government in Ekiti was bereft of ideas and does not have anything good to offer the citizens of the state, stressing that the July 14 election would be an opportunity to halt the brigandage and maladministration going on in the state.
NAIJ.com previously reported that Fayemi said his ministry was yet to hire anyone over for the concession of Ajaokuta Steel Plant.
The lower legislative chamber on Thursday, March 15, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the concession of the plant.
The House also reportedly moved to amend the privatisation act by removing the steel plant from the list of public assets which the federal government has powers to privatise.
Fayemi, however, said the process for the appointment of a transaction adviser was on but would not be completed until it got the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The minister said it was worrisome that the House could devote an entire day to an issue that “has not even arisen”.
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Source: Naija.ng