Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant and former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Chief Agboola Ajayi, has officially returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the move will allow him to play a more active role in governance and support both Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s EASE agenda and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ajayi made the announcement on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at his ward in Apoi Ward 2, Kiribo, in Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State when he was formally received back into the ruling party.
Ajayi, who was the PDP governorship candidate in the November 2024 election and a former deputy to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, explained that his decision to rejoin the APC was rooted in a desire to contribute meaningfully to the party’s activities and align with its development priorities at both the state and national levels.
In his remarks, he said rejoining the APC would “strengthen his support for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s EASE agenda and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.”
Ajayi’s political journey has seen him move between parties over the years. He initially served as deputy governor under Akeredolu in the APC before leaving amid internal differences.
He later joined the PDP and was its governorship candidate in 2024. His return to the APC comes amid broader political realignments in Nigerian politics, with several high-profile figures crossing party lines in the run-up to the 2027 elections.
At the reception event, Ajayi stressed that political disagreements should not hinder progress or the broader national interest.
He invoked international examples, suggesting that rivals in other democracies have reconciled for their countries’ greater good. “We all remember what happened in Kenya, where you had Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta.
They fought and abused themselves but later came together in the interest of their country,” he said, underlining his belief that unity is necessary to advance Nigeria’s development prospects.
Ajayi also commended President Tinubu for his economic reforms and governance initiatives, noting that the policies put in place have strengthened Nigeria’s economy and laid a foundation that future leaders “cannot easily undo.”
He acknowledged ongoing security challenges but said improvements were visible compared to previous years.
Party leaders in Ondo State welcomed Ajayi’s return as a strategic boost to the APC’s strength ahead of future elections.
Babatunde Kolawole, the Special Adviser to Governor Aiyedatiwa on Legislative and Party Affairs, described Ajayi’s reentry as a “big value addition” to the party, asserting that his grassroots influence and political experience will enhance the APC’s outreach and mobilisation efforts.
Ade Adetimehin, the Ondo APC chairman, echoed this view, calling Ajayi a “grassroots politician” with deep knowledge of the state’s political landscape.
Adetimehin said Ajayi’s influence and following would help solidify the party’s position in Ondo, making the goal of securing “one million votes” in the 2027 elections achievable.
Ajayi’s return reflects a broader trend of political repositioning in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections. For urban civic actors, business leaders, and youth networks, such shifts indicate the importance of strategic alliances and the need for active participation in governance.
Stronger alignment between political actors and ruling party agendas may affect policy direction, public investment priorities, and private sector confidence in key states like Ondo.
Chief Agboola Ajayi’s decision to rejoin the APC underscores a pragmatic approach to political engagement focused on unity and developmental impact.
As he backs the agendas of both Governor Aiyedatiwa and President Tinubu, the move could strengthen the APC’s electoral prospects in Ondo State while signalling broader support for the party’s governance priorities ahead of the 2027 elections.
