A former House of Representatives candidate, Henrich Akomolafe, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), moving with what party leaders said were over 12,000 loyalists.
Akomolafe, who flew the PDP flag for Ekiti South Federal Constituency I in the 2023 general election, formalised his switch at a well-attended ceremony in Ikere-Ekiti, drawing top political figures across party lines.
Among those present were Governor Biodun Oyebanji, former governor Ayodele Fayose, Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye, and Speaker Adeoye Aribasoye, underscoring the significance of the moment just months before the June 20, 2026 governorship election.
Explaining his decision, Akomolafe cited what he described as the “visible strides” of the Oyebanji administration and the leadership of President Bola Tinubu at the federal level. He said the policies of the current government had positively impacted him and many others, strengthening his belief in continuity.
According to him, aligning with the APC would better position him and his supporters to contribute to the state’s development. He pledged total loyalty to the party leadership and promised to mobilise grassroots support ahead of both the 2026 governorship poll and the 2027 general elections.
Governor Oyebanji described Akomolafe as an energetic and influential grassroots politician whose entrance into the APC would further consolidate the party’s structure across Ekiti.
“You are a very strong politician, and I am proud of what you have done for your people,” the governor said, assuring the new entrants that they would enjoy equal rights and privileges within the party.
He expressed confidence that the APC would secure a decisive victory in the June 20 election, pointing to what he termed his administration’s developmental record over the past three years.
Beyond 2026, Oyebanji turned attention to 2027, urging residents to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and actively participate in the general elections. He called for massive support for President Tinubu, setting a target of no fewer than 600,000 votes for the president in Ekiti.
“If you don’t have a PVC, you are not part of us,” the governor declared, emphasising peaceful mobilisation and warning against electoral violence.
He also thanked Fayose for endorsing Akomolafe’s move, describing it as a step that would deepen political cooperation in the state.
In a twist that added intrigue to the event, Fayose reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, insisting he would not defect. However, he pledged to rally his supporters behind Oyebanji’s re-election bid and Tinubu’s 2027 ambition.
Declaring himself the leader of the PDP in Ekiti, Fayose said the governor’s performance over the last three years justified broad-based support, even from opposition quarters.
He urged Akomolafe and his supporters to work diligently for the APC’s success in the coming elections, framing the moment as one of political unity rather than division.
