Fayemi coordinating opposition candidates against Tinubu, Buba Galadima alleges
Buba Galadima, chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress
(NDC), has alleged that Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti state, is
coordinating a seven-man group drawn across opposition parties in a bid to
unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Galadima spoke on Thursday during an appearance on Channels
Television’s ‘Politics Today’, where he discussed the opposition’s strategy
against the president.
The politician said other opposition parties cannot legally
produce a single candidate to face Tinubu, arguing that the opposition should
instead present multiple candidates and subsequently rally behind one who can
defeat the president.
“Technically, legally, other opposition parties cannot
produce one single candidate on the ballot to face Tinubu. We have passed that
stage,” he said.
“So my idea has always been that we face Tinubu as a
hydra-headed snail. And if, a day to the election, we are convinced that Mr A
or Mr B is the person that can beat Tinubu, we can just tell our supporters —
it’s happening all over the world — to vote for that single person.
“It’s the only way to tackle Tinubu politically and defeat
him, and I stand by that.”
The NDC chieftain said he is part of the seven-man
opposition group being coordinated by Fayemi, adding that they are making
progress.
“I am part of the group of the opposition candidates, seven
of us meeting under the coordination of ex-Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti
state to try to work on that. And we are making progress,” he said.
Asked what the group is working on, Galadima said,
“defeating Tinubu”, noting that he does not know Fayemi “to be an active member
of the APC”.
“And even with that, there are a lot of ministers and
governors who are with Tinubu during the day and with us at night. Tinubu
should know that,” he added.
‘NO TRUTH IN THAT CLAIM’
Fayemi served two non-consecutive terms as governor of Ekiti
on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) between 2010 and 2022.
Reacting, Julius Ogunro, one of Fayemi’s media aides,
dismissed the claim, saying the former minister remains committed to the APC.
Speaking with TheCable, Ogunro noted that Rotimi Amaechi,
vice presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), also made
a similar allegation in August, which was rebuffed by Ahmad Sajoh, head of
Fayemi’s media office.
“There’s no truth in that claim. The head of the Fayemi
Media Office, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, had earlier responded to such claim. It is
not true,” Ogunro said.
Amaechi at the time had claimed that he, alongside Fayemi,
began the opposition coalition discussions, and that they later agreed to
expand the conversation to include other stakeholders interested in
establishing a new political party.
However, in a statement, Sajoh said: “We unequivocally state
that these claims lack any basis. Dr Fayemi remains a committed member and
leader of the APC in Ekiti State.
“At various public forums in Ekiti and nationwide, he has
consistently affirmed his dedication to the APC, working to address its
challenges and advance its progressive ideals for Nigeria. Nothing has
changed.”
In August, Galadima, said “34 and a half” governors are
backing Tinubu’s re-election bid, with Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi, yet
to decide on who to work with between the ruling party and the opposition
coalition.
6 hours ago
