The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, has declared interest in contesting the July the 14th governorship election in Ekiti State.
Fayemi who was Governor of Ekiti State between 2010 and 2014 told journalists at his Ishan Ekiti country home that he would follow due process.
This includes a formal notification of his intention to the leadership of the APC, and the state secretariat of the party, followed by a public declaration rally.
Fayemi noted that he was aware of various speculations about whether he would run for the governorship or not.
He, however said that, with last week’s release of guidelines and time table for the July election, the right time for him to make a formal declaration and join the race has come.
The minister said the state government’s controversial White Paper could not stop him from contesting the governorship election, as designed by the PDP government.
Earlier, the Minister had addressed a mammoth 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.
State Chairman of the party, High Chief Jide Awe, deputy chairman, Chief (Mrs) Kemi Olaleye; State Secretary, Barrister Paul Omotosho led other state, local government and ward executives as well as elders of the party to the quarterly meeting.
Saying that the huge number of aspirants jostling for the APC ticket was a good development for the party, Fayemi urged all aspirants and their supporters to pursue their ambitions in a very decent manner, emphasising that their credentials and plans are to lift the state from its present state
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.
The election has been fixed for July 14, and political watchers believe its going to a fierce battle between APC led federal government and the incumbent governor of the state, Ayodele Fayose.