I Didn't Reconcile With Fayose, I Was Set Up –Aluko Opens Up

Will this drama in Ekiti come to an end?  A fresh twist crept into the alleged reconciliation between the governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose and his "associate" a former Secretary state chapter of PDP, Tope Aluko, on Tuesday, when the latter denied reconciling with Fayose.

This came barely 48 hours after Fayose and Aluko jointly addressed journalists at the VIP section of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, on Sunday. But what are they really up to?


Last year, Aluko alleged that Fayose, with support from former President Goodluck Jonathan, had rigged the governorship election held on June 21, 2014.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday in Lagos, Aluko, however, alleged that he was under duress when he addressed journalists in company with Fayose.

He said the event was stage-managed by Fayose and some PDP chieftains to look like a reconciliation.

His words, “I received a call from two senior members of the party. One of them is a serving senator and the other is a former governor. I was told to come to the Eko Hotel to meet with them and I went in company with my wife.

“We were halfway into the discussion, which they tagged as a ‘Peace parley’. It should be noted that no reference was made to the 2014 (Ekiti) governorship election and the aftermath, including my revelation to the public about the way the election was rigged in favour of Ayo Fayose.

“I was shocked to see Governor Fayose walk into the meeting at this point. I won’t want to bore you with the drama and the face-off that ensued between me and Governor Fayose at the meeting.

“It is worthy of note that it was at this point that my wife barged into the meeting to inform me that she noticed the presence of pressmen downstairs, saying, ‘there is a problem’, but Fayose interrupted her and said, ‘Madam, there is no problem’.

He also said he played along after sensing that his life and that of his wife might be in danger.

Aluko said he stood by all the allegations he had earlier made about ex-President Jonathan assisting Fayose to rig the 2014 Ekiti governorship election with the provision of security operatives and money.