In a stunning political development that has sent shockwaves through the nation’s political landscape, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, as the Chairman of the Board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). The announcement, which signifies a major realignment of political forces, was made public on Monday evening through an official state capital release.

The high-profile appointment was confirmed in a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the presidency, Fayose’s new role is part of a broader federal clean-up involving 26 fresh appointments across 10 strategic government agencies and commissions, aimed at repositioning the administration`s driving machinery.

However, this sudden development represents a dramatic U-turn for the fiery Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, who had previously vowed never to serve under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Observers are already pointing out the sharp contradiction between Fayose`s new federal assignment and his emphatic public declarations made just months prior.

Specifically, on October 15, 2025, during a widely watched live appearance on Channels Television’s flagship programme Politics Today, Fayose explicitly disclosed that he had rejected an appointment directly offered by President Tinubu. He insisted at the time that he had no desire to return to public office after completing two terms as governor.

"Have you seen me taking an appointment from the APC? Asiwaju asked me, ‘What would we give you?’ I said, ‘Nothing, sir.’ At 65, I’d rather be at home, being more responsible, doing other things that I need to do," Fayose had boldly declared during the television broadcast, maintaining that his public service chapter was closed.

During that same media outing, the former governor took great pains to separate his long-standing personal relationship with Tinubu from party politics. He told the public that while he shared a deep, brotherly bond with the President, it would never translate into cross-carpet political allegiance or employment under an APC banner.

With Monday`s development, those words have been put to the test as Fayose prepares to take control of the REA, a critical federal agency tasked with providing electricity to rural communities nationwide. Critics are already accusing the veteran politician of capitulating to the allure of federal patronage despite his previous high-minded stance.

As the news continues to generate intense debate across the country, all eyes are now on the PDP leadership to see how they will react to one of their most vocal members taking up an appointment under the rival administration. Fayose has yet to issue an official statement addressing his sudden change of heart regarding the APC job.