A former Deputy Governor of Ondo State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the November 2024 governorship election, Agboola Ajayi, has officially returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ajayi rejoined the ruling party on Tuesday at his hometown, Apoi Ward 2, Kiribo, in Ese Odo Local Government Area of the state.
Ajayi, who previously served as a member of the House of Representatives, had resigned from the APC in June 2020 and defected to the PDP. At the time, he cited irreconcilable differences with the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, under whom he served as deputy governor, as the reason for his exit.
Speaking in Igbekebo, the headquarters of Ese Odo Local Government Area, Ajayi declared his full support for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s “EASE” agenda as well as President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He described his return to the APC as a homecoming that would allow him to contribute more actively to the party’s activities and the state’s development.
According to him, “In politics, there could be disagreements, campaigns, propaganda and blackmail, but at the end of the day, the bigger picture is the Nigeria project. We must come together to add value to the system.
“Myself and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa have talked. We campaigned against each other, and during campaigns, blackmail and propaganda are not unusual. However, when we look beyond those things, we realise that the bigger picture is greater than all of us.
“This is about the Nigeria project. We should come together to see how we can add value to the system. I also want to commend Mr President for the bold steps and reforms he has introduced in the country.
“He has been able to establish and lay a solid foundation. No president will come and say he wants to cancel those policies again,” Ajayi noted.
What you should know
Agboola Ajayi’s return to the APC marks a significant political shift in Ondo State ahead of the 2027 elections.
Having left the party in 2020 after a fallout with the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his re-entry signals reconciliation within the ruling party and renewed alignment with the state and federal leadership.
Ajayi’s endorsement of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and President Bola Tinubu’s agendas reflects the APC’s efforts to consolidate internal unity and strengthen its political base in Ondo State as preparations for future elections begin.
