In a major political shift, hundreds of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from all 11 wards of Ikere Local Government Area have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), strengthening the ruling party’s base ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The defection ceremony took place on Sunday at the APC Secretariat in Oke-Osun, Ikere-Ekiti, and drew a large crowd of party faithful. The event was widely seen as a show of rising support for the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Chief (Mrs.) Monisade Afuye, who hails from the area.
The defectors, led by prominent figures including Mr. Ogundare Banji, Mr. Adedara Kokumo, and Mr. Oni Akinniyi, cited the developmental strides of the Oyebanji-led administration and its inclusive governance style as key reasons for their move.
“We have witnessed transformation in various sectors across the state. Governor Oyebanji’s sincerity and inclusive leadership give us confidence that APC is the future of Ekiti,” one of the defectors stated.
Welcoming the new members were key APC stakeholders, including the Ikere Local Government APC Chairman, Mr. Oyebode Ebenezer Olukayode; Commissioner for Special Duties, Otunba Dolamu Adeniyi; Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Hon. Victor Adeniyi; Executive Chairman of Ikere Local Government, Hon. (Sqn. Ldr. Rtd.) Olu Adamolekun Egbejoda; and Executive Chairman of Ikere West LCDA, Hon. Rufus Olorunfemi.
Commissioner Dolamu Adeniyi assured the defectors of equal opportunity within the party and urged them to retrieve their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in preparation for the next electoral cycle.
The mass defection is being hailed as a strategic win for the APC, further consolidating the political dominance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, and Deputy Governor Afuye across Ekiti.
With the statewide APC endorsement rally scheduled for Monday, July 28, the momentum in Ikere is expected to energize party supporters across the state.
