Agboola Ajayi, former deputy Governor of Ondo state and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in 2024 governorship election, has returned to All Progressives Congress (APC).
Gatekeepers News reports that Ajayi formally rejoined APC on Tuesday at Apoi Ward 2 in Kiribo, Ese Odo local government area, an area widely regarded as his political base. He was received on behalf of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa by Kolawole Babatunde, special adviser on legislative and party affairs.
The former deputy Governor previously served under the late Rotimi Akeredolu before leaving the APC for the PDP in 2020. On his return, Ajayi pledged his support for Governor Aiyedatiwa’s EASE agenda and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda as political activities began to build ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Describing his defection as a homecoming, Ajayi said the move would allow him to play a more active role in party affairs and contribute to development in the state.
“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,” he said.
He added that political contests often come with harsh exchanges but should not overshadow national interest. “Myself and the Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, we have talked, we have abused ourselves, we did not really go into that abuse. We campaigned; at the time of the campaign, you cannot rule out blackmail and propaganda,” Ajayi said, adding that unity was more important than past disagreements.
Ajayi also praised President Tinubu for ongoing reforms, saying, “He’s been able to establish and lay a solid foundation. No president will come and say he wants to come and cancel those policies again.”
