Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has accused the Peoples Democratic Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal of being chiefly responsible for the current crises and weakened state of the PDP.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, January 9, 2026, Fayose did not spare the former National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, either.
“Atiku destroyed the PDP, Tambuwal destroyed the PDP, and Ayu destroyed it. Politics is not fair; life itself is not balanced,” he declared.
Fayose, however, defended his controversial decision to support President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, insisting he remained honest and consistent in his political choices.
“Everybody stands where they will be able to say the truth to Nigerians. I am not contesting elections, and I have not asked anybody for favours,” he said.
“Openly, I supported Asiwaju Tinubu in 2023, and I didn’t hide it. Till now, I am still there. I didn’t jump. I have said it to you, I am not a member of the APC, and I will never be,” Fayose added.
Reflecting on the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, Fayose expressed surprise at the fallout between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former governor Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
“I never knew this thing would ever happen between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike,” he said.
He recalled being on the high table during Fubara’s inauguration and warning Wike at the time that he hoped the new governor would not betray him.
The PDP has been grappling with deep internal divisions since the buildup to the 2023 general elections.
Tensions escalated after the May 2022 presidential primaries, where Atiku emerged victorious following Tambuwal’s withdrawal and endorsement.
The subsequent refusal by then-National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu to step down despite an earlier understanding that a Northerner who won the ticket would resign for a southerner to take over fuelled discontent, particularly among the G5 governors, led by Wike.
The lingering rift contributed to factionalism, poor electoral performance in 2023, and the party’s ongoing struggle to regain cohesion ahead of future elections.
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Ayodele Peter Fayose, You are playing dangerous games with Wike as far as PDP is concern. You guys are the bad eggs in PDP, take it or leave it.
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