Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has revealed that he turned down repeated invitations from former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking to journalists, Fayose said both leaders personally reached out to him at different times, but he declined every offer despite efforts by senior APC figures to persuade him to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to Fayose, one of the invitations came about five years ago when former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi was preparing to return to office. He disclosed that Tinubu personally invited him to join the APC, while Buhari also made a similar request during his presidency. Fayose said he was even taken to meet the then APC National Chairman, where party leaders assured him political control of Ekiti State if he joined the ruling party. However, he maintained his position, insisting he would not work with Buhari or become a member of the APC.

Reflecting on his political journey, Fayose admitted he endured years of political turmoil while serving as governor and sustained a spine injury during post-election political battles. Despite the setbacks, he said time had changed his perspective, praising Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s leadership as a positive development for Ekiti State. Fayose stated that although he was initially unhappy about losing political control of the state, he now believes Oyebanji’s emergence has brought a new direction and greater stability to the state.