Drama as Fayose Wears PDP Cap at APC Endorsement Rally for Oyebanji, Tinubu

A political drama unfolded in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday as former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, stirred controversy by appearing at a high-profile All Progressives Congress (APC) endorsement rallly wearing a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) branded cap.

The rally, organized to drum up support for Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) and reaffirm the state’s loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, drew key APC stakeholders, party loyalists, and political leaders from across Ekiti and beyond.

However, all eyes turned to Fayose as he arrived in a convoy, clad in a native agbada and conspicuously sporting a PDP cap a sartorial statement many saw as both deliberate and defiant.

Speaking to reporters after exchanging greetings with the APC leadership, Fayose dismissed insinuations of confusion or betrayal.

“Wearing my PDP cap is not a mistake. I’m a PDP man, but I support good governance. Governor Oyebanji is doing well, and I support him,” Fayose declared, drawing both applause and murmurs from onlookers.

He added, “Ekiti’s development must be our priority, party or no party. I may not agree with APC ideologically, but I know when a man is doing the right thing. That man is BAO.”

His statement sparked a flurry of reactions, with many questioning whether Fayose’s appearance signals a growing tendency among Nigerian politicians to blur partisan lines or a strategic realignment in the run-up to 2027.

Fayose’s choice to wear his PDP regalia while attending an APC event was met with sharply divided opinions among both parties.

Some APC supporters criticized the move as “political showboating,” accusing the former governor of trying to remain relevant while hedging his bets. “If he’s with PDP, he should stay there. Why show up at an APC rally dressed like that? It’s confusing and disrespectful,” said Akeem Ajibola, a local APC youth leader.

However, others within the APC camp were more diplomatic. A source close to Governor Oyebanji said the governor had invited Fayose personally, noting their “growing working relationship in the interest of Ekiti people.”

The PDP in Ekiti has yet to officially react, but insiders suggest Fayose’s appearance at the APC rally has caused unease within the party. A senior PDP official who requested anonymity said: “We are watching closely.

Fayose is a big voice in our party, but his actions need to align

Known for his charismatic and sometimes controversial style, Fayose has long positioned himself as a maverick in Nigerian politics. Since leaving office in 2018, he has remained active in Ekiti’s political space, often commenting on national issues and occasionally crossing party lines to endorse candidates or policies from rival camps.

In 2023, he was one of the first PDP leaders to publicly congratulate Bola Tinubu on his presidential victory, despite the party’s loss in the polls a move that earned him both praise and backlash from within the PDP.

Sunday’s episode adds to the former governor’s reputation as an independent-minded political force one unafraid to go against the grain.

Analysts say Fayose’s latest move may signal shifting alliances in Ekiti ahead of the 2027 general elections. With the PDP still trying to regain a foothold in the Southwest and the APC consolidating its dominance, the political realignment of key figures like Fayose could prove decisive.

For now, his PDP cap at an APC rally will be remembered as more than just a fashion statement but a symbol of Nigeria’s fluid political terrain, where loyalty to the people may sometimes eclipse loyalty to party lines.