Former Ekiti State Governor Olusegun Oni has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress, registering with the ruling party at his Ifaki Ekiti country home over the weekend in a move described by party officials as a major political realignment ahead of future elections in the state.
The Coordinator of the APC e-registration exercise in Ekiti State, Adesola Adedayo, confirmed the development on Monday in Ado Ekiti, stating that Oni’s registration on Sunday represents a significant boost to the party’s ongoing membership drive and its broader political fortunes in the state.
Adedayo, who also serves as the state Commissioner for Youth Development, hailed the former governor’s decision to formally participate in the APC e-registration exercise, describing him as “a resourceful and popular leader, who will add tremendous value to the party and strengthen its winning streak.”
“On Sunday, we registered former Governor Segun Oni as a member of our great party. This significant political move will help the ongoing online registration of our members in Ekiti,” Adedayo said, according to statements issued to the press.
Oni, who governed Ekiti State between 2007 and 2010 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, has had a complex political journey marked by multiple party affiliations and legal battles over his tenure. His administration was cut short following a protracted legal dispute that eventually led to a court ruling that installed Kayode Fayemi of the then Action Congress of Nigeria as governor in October 2010.
Since leaving office, Oni has remained active in Ekiti politics, moving between parties in pursuit of a return to the Ekiti Government House. Most recently, he was the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2022 election, where he finished third behind the APC’s Biodun Oyebanji, who won, and the PDP candidate.
His defection to the APC marks his latest political realignment and signals a potential consolidation of opposition forces under the ruling party’s umbrella in Ekiti State. Adedayo described the move as “a seismic shift in the political realignment ahead of the 2026 Ekiti poll and 2027 general elections.”
The commissioner emphasised Oni’s grassroots appeal and political influence, noting that his presence in the APC could significantly enhance the party’s membership drive and electoral prospects.
“When it comes to grassroots politics, former Governor Oni is a respected individual in this aspect. He is well-loved at the grassroots and the intention of our registration is to attract more people into the APC. Having an individual like the former governor with us at this crucial time is a big plus,” Adedayo stated.
The former governor’s registration comes amid a broader APC membership mobilisation effort in Ekiti State, which has seen party leaders actively encouraging enrolment through the party’s electronic registration platform. Adedayo confirmed that Oni’s registration occurred barely 24 hours after Governor Biodun Oyebanji revalidated his own APC membership, underscoring the party’s emphasis on strengthening its base ahead of upcoming electoral contests.
The APC has governed Ekiti State since 2018, when Fayemi returned for a second term, and has maintained control following Oyebanji’s election in 2022. The party’s continued dominance in the state has been attributed to strong internal cohesion, effective grassroots mobilisation, and the absorption of key opposition figures.
Oni’s defection is expected to further weaken the opposition in Ekiti, particularly the SDP, which had hoped to leverage his political clout and grassroots network in future elections. His departure from the SDP also raises questions about the viability of smaller parties in the state’s political landscape, where the APC and PDP have traditionally dominated.
Adedayo expressed satisfaction with the progress of the e-registration exercise, stating that the party is “poised for greatness and victory as we look up to the future elections.” However, he cautioned party leaders against complacency, urging them to intensify mobilisation efforts to further expand the APC’s numerical strength at the grassroots level.
“We are happy with the pace at which we are going in the e-registration exercise, and we know that the APC is poised for greatness and victory as we look up to the future elections,” the commissioner said, while calling for “more concerted actions” to sustain the momentum.
