‘I’m not part of the drama’ — Fayose denies interest in PDP chairmanship race

Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti state, has distanced himself from the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP has been in crisis since the 2023 presidential election, with disagreements over Umar Damagum’s position as acting national chair.

On 18 September, Bala Mohammed, Bauchi state governor and chair of the PDP governors’ forum, hosted the party’s board of trustees (BoT) and said Damagum’s position was no longer tenable.

In a tweet on Saturday, Fayose said he is not interested in becoming the national chair of the party.

He also dissociated himself from calls to suspend former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT); and Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state.

“I dissociate myself from media reports linking me with any self-declaration as chairman of the PDP and suspension of the likes of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governors Wike, Makinde, etc. from the party,” Fayose posted on X.

“As of today, Ambassador Umar Damagum is the Chairman of the PDP and I am not aspiring to be Chairman of the party.”

He also asked the public to verify reports that use his name, explaining that there are many “Fayoses” in Nigeria.

“I am Peter Ayodele Fayose. As such, stories not clearly stating my name should be disregarded and treated as stories from any of the many other Fayoses in Nigeria,” he added.

“Most importantly, I’m not part of the drama in the party and will never be. I am also not interested in any political office, either appointed or elective.”

Damagum became acting chairman in March 2023 after Iyorchia Ayu’s suspension.

Before the NEC meeting in April, PDP members loyal to Atiku moved against Damagum over allegations that he was working for Wike.

In May, a federal high court in Abuja restrained  the PDP from replacing Damagum.

However, a faction of the party’s national working committee (NWC) suspended Damagum and Sam Anyanwu, the national secretary, on Friday.

A federal high court in Abuja restrained the national executive committee (NEC) and BoT from removing Damagum and other party officials until the national convention in 2025.

Meanwhile, a faction of the PDP has appointed Yayari Mohammed as the party’s acting national chair.