Two former governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede and Chief Agboola Ajayi, have officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), signaling a major realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Their defection is part of a broader coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The movement is gaining traction in Ondo and across other regions.
Other notable figures who have joined the ADC include former Senator Nicholas Tofowomo (Ondo South), ex-House of Representatives member Prof. Bode Ayorinde, former PDP State Chairman Tola Alabere, and former PDP Publicity Secretary Kennedy Peretei.
At the inauguration of the state chapter of the coalition, Prof. Ayorinde, who now serves as the state coordinator, highlighted the coalition’s rising popularity.
“All the local governments are with us. Our numbers are growing steadily, and we intend to build on that momentum,” he said, stressing that the movement is rooted in grassroots mobilization rather than financial inducement.
He announced that ADC membership cards would soon be distributed across wards and local councils.
According to Ayorinde, the coalition represents a credible alternative for Ondo people, especially as the state approaches another governorship election.
“We began with just 25 members. Today, we are over 300 strong. This is proof of the ruling party’s failure and the readiness of the people to embrace change,” he said, affirming his personal decision not to seek elective office.
In his remarks, Kennedy Peretei described the coalition as a necessary response to growing disillusionment with the current political system.
“Beyond the prominent names, the state of the nation and Ondo in particular calls for a new political direction,” he said, revealing that PDP structures in at least two local government areas have fully integrated into the ADC, effectively ending the PDP’s presence in those regions.
Peretei also pointed to growing unrest within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), predicting that the coalition would capitalize on the internal divisions.
“There’s considerable tension within the APC. We are ready to take advantage of that and offer Nigerians a real alternative,” he stated. “The fear of a one-party state is fading. What comes next will shake the system.”