FLASHBACK: On this day in 2014, Fayose defeated Fayemi

Exactly two years ago, Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, trounced Kayode Fayemi, the then incumbent governor, in an election.

Fayose, who ran on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), polled a total of 203,090 votes, winning the highest number of votes in all the 16 local government areas of the state.

Fayemi, currently the minister of solid minerals, contested under the All Progressives Congress (APC), who came a distant second, garnered 120,433 votes.

Eighteen political parties fielded candidates in the election which held in 177 wards.

Supporters of the APC found it difficult to understand the tsunami that hit them in the poll because Fayemi had been widely acknowledged as having performed very well.

Fayose took the oath of office on October 16, exactly eight years after he was impeached during his first term as governor.

The governor made reference to the coincidence in his inauguration speech.

“Today marks the eight anniversary of that dark episode. If you watch very well, Ekiti has been battling with my removal. They could not find peace until God brought me back,” he had said.

“I have forgiven Ekiti for removing me unjustly and I declare peace, prosperity, progress, employment, food and stomach infrastructure.”

However, four months after he resumed his second term, news website Sahara Reporters released audio tapes that the election was allegedly rigged, an allegation that Fayose denied vehemently.

This led to series of investigations, with the climax being revelations by Tope Aluko, former secretary of the PDP in the state.

Aluko indicted former President Goodluck Jonathan, chieftains of the PDP, and service chiefs.

Fayose is currently in the news over the freezing of his personal bank account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).