The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Ekiti State, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, yesterday denied the rumours making the rounds that he had concluded plans to step down for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Ayo Fayose.
He pointed accusing fingers at his counterpart in the PDP, Mr. Ayodele Fayose as the person behind the rumour.
Bamidele spoke in a statement issued through Ahmed Salami, his media aide, said he cannot step down for a man of Fayose’s questionable character, boasting be beat him with a wide margin in the election.
However, despite his denial, THISDAY gathered that he had concluded arrangement to step down for Fayose today.
Speaking with THISDAY last night, a source at the presidency who spoke on account of anonymity, said Bamidele had been convinced to step down for the PDP candidate.
The source said Bamidele would formally announce his decision today.
“The information we have here is that Bamidele has concluded arrangement to step down for Fayose and that he will formally make the announcement today,” the source said.
He said if anyone had a reason to step down at all, it should be Fayose stepping down for him because he (Bamidele) stands a better chance in the race.
However, the LP candidate who said he had facts of how Fayose had been hiding under fictitious names to destroy his name in the media, also warned him and his party, the PDP that ‘enough is enough.’
The LP candidate claimed to be relying on his better public image and leadership virtues than Fayose who he alleged to have a baggage of negativity hanging around his neck including court cases bordering on corruption and ineligibility to contest in the race.
He attributed his growing popularity as a source of concern for Fayose and his supporters, claiming that the ongoing rumour about his withdrawal from the race was Fayose’s smokescreen which he said was dead on arrival.
“The recent misinformation going about in Ekiti State about my purported withdrawal for Ayodele Fayose of PDP is the handwork of its supposed beneficiary who has penchant for sharp practices and cutting corners even as the election remains about 72 hours”
“This act of cowardice from Fayose and PDP is an indication that they are jittery of my growing popularity in this race where we are better prepared”
“If anyone should step down at all, it should be Fayose stepping down for me because I stand a better chance than him in this race.
“Ekiti people know who can lead better between us, they know better who is more educated without array of court cases bordering on corruption, murder and ineligibility to contest this race in the first place. The summary of it is that politics apart, I’m not Fayose’s ilk so I can’t step down for him.
“Since we are now fully aware of Fayose’s chameleonic attitude of destroying our image through proxies in the media while pretending to be politically mature, enough is enough for this leopard that can never change its spots,” he said.
Source: Thisday
