Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has explained his absence at the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) national conference held in Abuja on Thursday, saying his absence was not as a result of any misgivings with the leadership of the party.

Fayose told newsmen in his Afao home that he was behind the national working committee (NWC) of the party led by Prince Uche Secondus in its quest to reposition the party and return it to winning ways, but could not attend the party’s conference because of some other equally important engagements in the state.

He said: “We have a powerful delegation in Abuja. We have the chairman of our party and the other executive members as well as many others in Abuja. I’ve done all that was expected of me and I’ve sent my contributions towards the success of the event, I don’t have to be in Abuja. I have to remain in Afao to receive some visitors. I’m with them in the spirit and I’m in total support of what they are doing.”

He added that he was also “observing prayers here in Afao Ekiti. This weekend is my 55th birthday. I have been receiving several visitors and I have a lot of people to meet and preparations to make. So, whatever the PDP leaders do at that level, I support them. I think the party even acknowledged the fact that there were things I have done here that had been of tremendous benefits to the party.”

Fayose described himself as a consistent politician, who is different from those that defected to All Progressives Congress shortly after former President Goodluck Jonathan lost the April presidential poll.

“It pains me when those that had benefited from the PDP for 16 years shamefully joined the APC just because we lost election.

“I am not that kind of a politician. I am with the PDP and I am committed to every effort being made by our leaders in Abuja to reposition it ahead of next elections. I support NWC and my absence does not mean I am fighting anybody,” he said.

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