Fayemi is reportedly interested in regaining the gubernatorial seat in Ekiti State, South-western part of Nigeria which he lost to Fayose in 2014.
Kayode Fayemi
Minister of Mines and Steel Developments, Dr Kayode Fayemi plans to seek President Muhammadu Buhari’s permission to contest the Ekiti State governorship election billed for July 14, 2018.
An associate of the minister who confided in ThisDay correspondent said that the minister planned to take another shot at the Ekiti State Government House which he lost to Ayo Fayose in 2014.
Going by the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, campaign for the Ekiti governorship election will open on April 15, 2018.
To join the race, Fayemi will have to resign from his ministerial job. The All Progressives Congress under which Fayemi will run already has a long list of aspirants hoping to emerge as the party’s flag-bearer for the election.
Among them are former governor of the state, Chief Segun Oni, Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr Babafemi Ojudu, a former commissioner for information in Lagos, Opeyemi Bamidele, a former member of the House of Representatives, Bamidele Faparusi, a retired permanent secretary, Chief Sesan Fatoba, and an Australian based medical doctor, Dr Wole Oluyede.
Others are: Mr kola Alabi, Bimbo Daramola, Mr Ranti Debo Ajayi, Funminiyi Afuye, Mr Muyiwa Coker, Senator Gbenga Aluko, Kayode Ojo, Dr Bayo Orire, Dr Folorunso Akinyele, Prince Kayode Olofinniyi, Mr Diran Adesua, Sunday Adebomi, Dr Makanjuola Owolabi, Mr Folorunso Akinyele and Dr Olu Oluleye.
The incumbent governor, Fayose is also working hard to make sure that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party retains the state.
To the consternation of other aspirants in his party, however, Fayose is positioning his deputy, Kolapo Olusola, to succeed him.
Many observers see the Ekiti State governorship election as an acid test for both the APC and the PDP and expect both parties to do their best to win the state.