Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State, has firmly denied claims attributed to Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Governor of Rivers State, that both men co-founded a new faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) before bringing others on board.
In a statement issued by his media office on Sunday, Fayemi dismissed the viral reports as baseless, insisting he remains a committed member of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The rebuttal comes after days of speculation on social media, where an unverified claim suggested Amaechi had named Fayemi as a co-founder of a breakaway ADC coalition.
“Despite efforts to verify this statement, which has gained traction on social and digital media, we have found no credible evidence to support it,” said Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, Head of Fayemi’s Media Office in Abuja. “No video of Hon. Amaechi making these claims or reports from reputable media organisations has been located.”
The statement cautioned against the spread of misinformation, noting that public figures are often subjected to fabricated or distorted statements for “malicious purposes.” It suggested that Amaechi may have been misquoted or that the claim was entirely manufactured.
“We unequivocally state that these claims lack any basis,” the statement read. “Dr. Fayemi remains a committed member and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State.”
Fayemi, who served as Minister of Solid Minerals Development under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been a prominent figure in the APC for over a decade. His media office emphasised that he has repeatedly declared his loyalty to the party, including at public forums in Ekiti and across Nigeria.
The statement also pointed to Fayemi’s recent endorsement of Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s re-election bid as further proof of his allegiance to the APC. “This underscores his loyalty to the APC,” it said.
While acknowledging that Fayemi engages in cross-party discussions on national issues, his office stressed that such dialogues should not be mistaken for political defection. “Dr. Fayemi is a politician and thought leader with friends and associates that span political, religious, ethnic and regional divides,” the statement noted. “From time to time, he is part of conversations about the Nigeria project, how to deepen our fledgling democracy, and make the country work for the greater good of all.”
However, it added: “These conversations, however, do not amount to defections or leaving the APC. Dr. Fayemi has the courage to pursue his convictions. If he were to leave the APC, he would make it public and not require a third party to do so.”
The media office also addressed speculation that Fayemi’s reduced visibility in national politics might have fuelled rumours of his departure from the APC. It clarified that he has been occupied with academic commitments, including a visiting professorship at King’s College London, and his governance-focused think tank, the Amandla Institute.
“Even then, while this may be true at the national level, it’s not so at the local level in Ekiti State, where he has been present at several leadership caucus meetings of the APC,” the statement said.
The rebuttal concluded with a caution to the public against relying on unverified social media reports. “We urge the public to treat any news concerning Dr. Fayemi with caution, particularly when it originates solely from social media.”
As of publication, Rotimi Amaechi has not publicly responded to the denial or confirmed whether he made the alleged statement.
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