Atiku’s emergence: Fayose contemplates exit from PDP if sidelined

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State says he may leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) if he was sidelined in the scheme of things with the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 elections.

Fayose and governor of River State, Chief Nyesom Wike, were alleged to have backed the former speaker of the House of representatives , Hon Aminu Tambuwal , in the presidential primary.

Atiku, however, emerged as the PDP presidential candidate on Sunday in Port Harcourt, River State, after defeating 11 other presidential aspirants including Tambuwal in the keenly contested primary.

In a statement he personally signed in Ado Ekiti on Monday, Fayose said he had no regret joining efforts with Wike in support of the aspiration of the Sokoto governor in the primary.

He said he would seek alternative political platform if those victorious in the primary were becoming unruly or trample on his rights.

He said: “We have no regret aligning with Governor Wike to support Governor Tambuwal for the presidential ticket and no apologies either.

“We kept the party alive and strong when most men became ladies. We never compromised. If any group feels it can do it alone, we will see how far they can go.

“I may renounce my membership of the party if the need arises.

“In the main time, myself and others will continue with our consultations while watching the turn of events.

“We cannot but appreciate leaders that have intervened so far, but this release became necessary to avoid fresh crisis or misrepresentation”, Fayose said.