Former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose has claimed that rigging elections has become increasingly difficult. He made the comments during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.
Fayose, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is supporting the re-election of President Bola Tinubu from the All Progressives Congress (APC). He is also serving as the Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency Board, a position he was appointed to by Tinubu several months ago.
Fayose asserted, “Politics is not a tea party. Asiwaju (Tinubu) will have 12 million votes. Go and write it down. Rigging elections is now very, very difficult.”
Regarding the formation of the Rainbow Coalition by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Fayose noted that both Wike and some APC governors are aligning with Tinubu in various ways. Tensions have arisen between Wike and the APC governors, who oppose any coalition that could undermine the party’s unity.
Wike has stated that his aim is to ensure President Tinubu secures a second term, rather than assist the governors in their own states. Fayose highlighted that the coalition’s effectiveness in delivering votes, especially in Rivers State, is what truly matters.
He commented, “What’s essential is whether the coalition can produce results for the president.” Fayose added that the underlying disagreements among party members should not be viewed as a threat to Tinubu’s re-election, suggesting that controversy can sometimes benefit a campaign.
He concluded by saying that these disputes reflect the natural dynamics of political interests, and there is no real threat to the president’s position.
