We Did Not Put One Kobo Into Gov. Ayo Fayose’s Election, Says Zenith Bank ~ DAPALS' ZONE

Zenith Bank has categorically denied any part in the funding of the 2014 governorship election effort of now Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose. In a letter of Disclosure to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the bank said it did not fund the election which returned Fayose to power as governor, nor any other election in the country.

Zenith Bank has categorically denied any part in the funding of the 2014 governorship election effort of now Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose.

In a letter of Disclosure to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the bank said it did not fund the election which returned Fayose to power as governor, nor any other election in the country.

“As a policy the bank does not make political donations or fund any political association or party,” it said in response to an administrative inquiry by the NSE.

It added that as a financial institution, it only maintains a very cordial relationship with the authorities of all States where it has business offices, including Ekiti.

“The bank's only branch in Ekiti State predates the assumption of office of the current· Administration,” it noted. “Moreover, the bank does not hold any business account of Ekiti State till date. There was therefore, no incentive to fund the election as alleged.”

The bank stated that it will continue to conduct its business in line with best practices and extant banking laws and regulations.

It would be recalled that on June 22, Governor Fayose declared that his governorship run had been funded by Zenith Bank Plc and other private donors as he tried to challenge claims by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that funds of the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki (retd), had been deployed in the campaign.

In his account, the governor said, “The management of Zenith Bank, which majorly funded my election, called me to a meeting where I was assured that the fund would be provided for my election. I was asked to nominate a trusted ally to be related with and I nominated Mr. Abiodun Agbele.

“All the payments into Abiodun Agbele’s account domiciled in Zenith Bank were directly from Zenith Bank…Most of the funds posted into Agbele’s account were through the Ibadan, Akure and Lagos branches of the Zenith Bank and sometimes; they brought cash.”