Immediate past Minister of Solid Minerals Development and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship election, has been guaranteed a heavy financial war chest in his bid to reclaim the hot seat, News Express learnt.

Fayemi, who was denied a second term in office by incumbent governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), recently resigned his ministerial appointment to concentrate on his bid to defeat the PDP candidate and incumbent Deputy Governor, Prof.

Kolapo Olusola, during the July 14, 2018 election. Fayose, who has enjoyed two terms as governor, is not qualified to run again.

“A budget of N25 billion was reportedly presented to President Muhammadu Buhari by Fayemi to prosecute the July 14 election,” a source who claimed to be in the know said.

The former minister has been reportedly receiving huge financial support from friends of President Buhari eager to see to the success of his governorship bid. Two leading Nigerian businessmen of northern extraction were said to have given him substantial amount of money to prosecute the election campaign. “One gave him N2 billion, while the other doled out $5 million,” according to a source.

One of the sources, a prominent aide of the APC candidate, disclosed that he has been assured of more funds as the election approaches.

News Express could not independently confirm any of the claims but learnt that Fayemi has no funding problems, going by his spending spree in pursuit of his gubernatorial ambition. He faced over 30 challengers during the APC primaries but eventually prevailed as “he came from Abuja with enough money and promptly took over the party machinery,” according to yet another source.

Political analysts say the July 14 ballot is difficult to predict in view of PDP’s determination to retain the Ekiti Government House ahead of the 2019 general elections.

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