The full definition of the cliché “politics is a dirty game” is already manifesting in full-blown in Ekiti State. This expression often describes politics as a free-for-all; a space where everything is considered a fair game in the quest for political power. The race is in full spring: on Saturday, June 20, 2026, the electorate in Ekiti State are expected to file out to elect a new governor or renew the mandate of the incumbent.
The cliché, “politics is a dirty game” reflects a common perception that politics is inherently corrupt, dishonest, and unethical. While some may view it as a necessary evil for achieving societal goals others see it as a breeding ground for self-interest and manipulation. The groundswell of opinion that politics is evil often arises from the prevalence of scandals, broken promises, and the use of questionable tactics by individuals and groups involved in political processes. This appears an apt description of the current political chess game in Ekiti State.
There is no gainsay in the fact that Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, JKF, a former two-term governor of Ekiti State and former minister of the federal republic, is a priceless newsmaker and global icon. He gained global recognition through his involvement in the June 12 struggle that culminated in the creation and running of Radio Kudirat. JKF later transitioned from being a public intellectual to political leadership roles, both as a state governor and federal minister. He has consistently been in the news from the June 12 struggle to date.
JKF, the newsmaker, has been in the news lately, albeit as a victim of baseless political propaganda. He was initially taunted with the allegation of planning to leave the All Progressives Congress, APC, to join the Social Democratic Party, SDP, just because some of his allies decamped from the APC to the SDP. The lie died naturally when the purported allies dumped the SDP to form the new coalition dubbed the African Democratic Congress, ADC. JKF was again surreptitiously linked with the ADC story.
The former governor was again maliciously mentioned in the national news reports about the formation and inauguration of the ADC, even though he didn’t feature in any of their meetings or functions. Some people deliberately ensured that his name was mentioned in the news reports of ADC’s events and activities. The frivolous linking of JKF with the ADC is meant to justify the narrative that he is working against the interest and second-term ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, PBAT.
JKF isn’t just a stakeholder in Ekiti politics, he is but also a jinx breaker. He was the first sitting governor to install a successor in Ekiti State. JKF was the vessel that God used to deliver the incumbent, His Excellency, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, BAO, to the Ekiti people. It’s therefore not surprising that JKF obliged the governor when he requested him to help in canvassing APC members to sustain their loyalty to the party.
JKF didn’t hesitate to assist BAO because of the memory of the 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State, where members of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, worked and voted against their own political party on election day. Therefore, to avert the repeat of such ugly occurrence, the dates and times of engagement/ meeting with several layers of Ekiti State APC, were fixed and jointly agreed upon by BAO and JKF.
The stakeholders’ engagement that was organised at the instance of BAO was later twisted and used to blackmail JKF that he wanted to use the meetings to woo and lead Ekiti State APC members to ADC. Luckily, yours truly witnessed most of the sessions, and what JKF preached all through was unity to strengthen the APC and ensure victory in all future elections.
To sustain a lie, you need more lies! A 90-second video clip was recently released online in which JKF was spitefully portrayed as criticizing PBAT. The 90-second clip was cut out of a 90-minute video clip of an almost 2-hour meeting by desperate individuals to sustain the narrative that JKF hates PBAT.
“We need to be united now more than ever. We can’t afford to let our party down. The APC must not fail. The people are not smiling! Truth be told, they have reasons to be angry. Apart from the present economic realities, most of the federal roads in Ekiti State are in deplorable condition. All of these angered the people. That’s why we must close ranks and ensure that APC is victorious in all future elections.” That was the message of JKF to the APC faithful he hosted. However, to score cheap political goal, someone cut out “most of the federal roads in Ekiti State are in deplorable condition” and used it to fictitiously justify the narrative of his paymasters.
A fruitful tree attracts stones! JKF is like the proverbial fruitful tree that is receiving a barrage of stones from every angle. Unfortunately, most of these attacks are from APC members. Some people within the APC are desperately nurturing the seed of discord already sown between JKF and PBAT, and will do anything to ensure that the seed of discord blossoms. That is why they keep on inventing and reinventing wicked lies to justify the single narrative that JKF is working against PBAT.
On the other hand, there are people who are currently sucking the juicy milk of Ekiti State that are not comfortable with the towering influence of JKF within the APC in Ekiti. They see JKF as a threat to their feeding bottle, and they will do anything to sustain their fictitious allegations against him, all in a bid to undermine him and wane his influence within Ekiti politics. Surprisingly, JKF is unruffled by their antics against him. The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the godly are as bold as a lion (Proverb 28:1). They are simply jittery and getting themselves worked up for nothing.
A simple study of JKF’s trajectory and political tapestry will show every discerning mind that he has never played second fiddle in any venture, and has never pretended about his convictions. If JKF wanted to leave the APC and/ or join the ADC, he will surely like to be a foundation member. He wouldn’t wait for the clairvoyants to dictate his political future.
You may not like JKF; as a matter of fact, you don’t have to like him. One thing you cannot take away from him is that he is not a coward. If and when he decides to resign from the APC he is going to speak out loudly without ambiguity. However, JKF is still a bonafide member of the APC and doesn’t intend to abandon the ship now.
“I am forever grateful to the APC for giving me a platform to rise from nothing to something. Therefore, the least I can do is to rally all hands to be on the deck to ensure the sustainability of the system that has done so much for me. I urge you all to renew your faith in the APC” That was JKF’s message to the APC stakeholders he hosted while his self-appointed political clairvoyants were busy predicting his migration to the ADC.
Gboyega Ajayi, writes from Ikoro Ekiti and can be reached through gboyeajayi@yahoo.com
