2023: Tinubu’s Running Mate, Shettima, Meets Fayose

The Vice Presidential Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima, met with former Ekiti state governor Ayodele Fayose.

Fayose, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is sympathetic to the cause of the G5 governors of the opposition party.

The G5 governors, led by Nyesom Wike of Rivers, are demanding the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu as the national chairman of the party.

Shettima shared pictures of his visit to Fayose on his Twitter page while thanking him for his support.

“I paid my brother, former Governor of Ekiti State, H.E. Ayodele Peter Fayose a visit,” Mr Shettima wrote. “The great Oshoko welcomed us with warmth and rare camaraderie.

“Thank you for your support and God bless you for hosting me and my team,” Shettima wrote.

Mr Fayose is yet to comment on his hosting of Mr Shettima and offer of political support to him.

I paid my brother, former Governor of Ekiti State, H.E. Ayodele Peter Fayose a visit.

The great Oshko welcomed us with warmth and rare camaraderie. Thank you for your support and God bless you for hosting me and my team. pic.twitter.com/gFFLAO8zV9

— Kashim Shettima (@KashimSM) January 24, 2023

Fayose is an influential member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his support for the ruling APC will be a major boost for the electioneering chances of the Bola Tinubu-Kashim Shettima ticket, especially in Ekiti State where the former governor enjoys a huge following.

The development may also be a dent in the chances of the Atiku Abubakar-Ifeanyi Okowa ticket, which has been scrambling to establish strong footholds in Ekiti and other South-West States.

Mr Fayose has been at loggerheads with the leadership of the PDP after his preferred presidential aspirant, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers, was defeated by Atiku at the party’s primary last year.

The former Ekiti governor is a firm supporter of the PDP’s influential dissident camp, led by Mr Wike, which wants party chair Iyorchia Ayu to step down so that a nominee from the South of Nigeria can take his place.

The Wike camp believes that because the party’s presidential candidate is from the north, the chairmanship position should be held by someone from the south, in accordance with the party’s age-old zoning convention.

All appeals to the aggrieved camp, which includes five governors, to shield its sword and support Atiku have so far failed.