Fayemi Denies Closed-Door Meeting With Kwankwaso, Labels Claim False

Former Ekiti State Governor and immediate past Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has rejected reports claiming he held a secret political meeting with former Kano State Governor Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso at his Abuja residence, describing the allegations as misleading and untrue.

In a statement issued on Thursday by Ahmad Sajoh, head of Fayemi’s media office, the former governor dismissed the narrative that circulated on social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), as a “blatant lie” that should be disregarded by the public.

The claim included an old video clip showing Fayemi greeting Kwankwaso at his residence, which social media posts presented as evidence of a recent closed-door political engagement. Fayemi’s office clarified that the video was not linked to any private political meeting.

According to the statement, “Dr Fayemi has only met Senator Kwankwaso once in the last year, and that occasion was at the public book launch of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN.”

Fayemi’s team emphasised that the encounter occurred in a public, non-political setting, not in a private or partisan context.

The former governor acknowledged that he and Kwankwaso have maintained a longstanding personal friendship that dates back to their respective tenures as state governors. However, he stressed that the relationship is non-partisan and rooted in mutual respect and a shared interest in Nigeria’s progress, rather than any current political alignment.

Fayemi cautioned against attempts by political actors to attach partisan meanings to private relationships, warning that many of his friends and associates either do not engage in active politics or belong to different political parties.

He reiterated his commitment to national unity, principled engagement, and responsible public discourse, urging Nigerians not to be swayed by unfounded narratives.