The House of Representatives candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election in Ekiti State, Henrich Akomolafe, has led over a thousand of his supporters into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the June 20 governorship election.
Akomolafe, a philanthropist and grassroots mobiliser who contested the Ekiti South Federal Constituency I seat, formally defected to the APC on Monday at a well-attended event in Ikere-Ekiti, headquarters of Ikere Local Government Area of the state.
The event drew prominent political figures, including Governor Oyebanji; former governor Fayose; the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Monisade Afuye; and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, among other stakeholders.
Welcoming the defectors, Governor Oyebanji described Akomolafe as a vibrant and accomplished young politician who has made significant contributions to the development of his people and community.
“You are a very strong politician, and I am proud of your achievements and what you have done for your people,” the governor said.
He assured the new entrants that the APC would not discriminate against them, stressing that they would enjoy the same rights and privileges as other members across the state.
On the June 20 governorship election, Oyebanji expressed confidence in securing victory, citing his administration’s developmental strides over the past three years.
He urged citizens to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and actively participate not only in the forthcoming governorship poll but also in the January 2027 general election, particularly in support of President Bola Tinubu.
The governor also commended Fayose for endorsing Akomolafe’s defection, saying, “I am grateful to former governor Ayodele Fayose for endorsing the defection of one of his sons to the APC.”
He added: “We have won the June 20 governorship election. Our people should remain calm and avoid violence. What we need now is to mobilise and get our PVCs so that we can demonstrate even greater support for our President in 2027.
“We must not get less than 600,000 votes for President Tinubu in 2027 because our President has done well for us and for the nation. He has been supportive, and if you don’t have a PVC, you are not part of us.”
In his remarks, Fayose reiterated that he would not defect to the APC but pledged to mobilise his supporters and admirers to support Governor Oyebanji’s re-election and President Tinubu’s 2027 bid.
Declaring himself the leader of the PDP in Ekiti State, the former governor said the Oyebanji administration had, in the last three years, transformed governance in the state, a development he said informed the decision of former governors and leaders to back the governor’s second-term ambition.
“Governor Oyebanji has no opposition and has already won the election,” Fayose declared. “But we want him to break all records by winning in all 177 wards and become the first to win back-to-back governorship elections in the state.
“Governor Oyebanji is an example to many governors in Nigeria, and we are proud of him. He has done well, and we are beginning to see positive results across sectors.”
He charged Akomolafe and his supporters to work assiduously to ensure the APC records overwhelming victories in the forthcoming elections.
Responding, Akomolafe expressed delight at joining the progressive fold, attributing his decision to the achievements of Governor Oyebanji over the past three years and the performance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the federal level.
According to him, “My decision to join the ruling party is therefore driven by the desire to contribute meaningfully and to support Governor Oyebanji in consolidating his achievements, especially as the 2026 governorship election approaches. While many believe the Governor has already won the confidence of the people, our goal is to ensure he secures even more votes as a mark of appreciation for his performance.”