A former House of Representatives candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Henrich Akomolafe, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside 12,000 supporters ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election.
Akomolafe, who contested the Ekiti South Federal Constituency I seat in the 2023 general election under the PDP, formally joined the APC at a ceremony held in Ikere-Ekiti, Ikere Local Government Area.
The event drew key political figures, including Governor Biodun Oyebanji, former governor Ayodele Fayose, Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye and Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye.
Explaining his decision, Akomolafe said he was motivated by what he described as the performance of Governor Oyebanji in Ekiti and President Bola Tinubu at the federal level. He noted that he had personally benefited from Federal Government policies and believed continuity in governance would accelerate development.
He pledged loyalty to the APC leadership and promised to mobilise support for the party in both the 2026 governorship election and the 2027 general polls.
Welcoming the defectors, Oyebanji described Akomolafe as a vibrant grassroots politician whose entry would further strengthen the APC’s structure across the state. The governor expressed confidence that the party would secure a landslide victory in the June 20 poll, citing what he called the achievements of his administration over the past three years.
“You are a very strong politician, and I am proud of your achievements and what you have done for your people,” Oyebanji told Akomolafe, assuring the new entrants that they would enjoy equal rights and privileges within the party.
The governor also urged residents to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate actively in the forthcoming governorship election as well as the January 2027 general elections, particularly in support of President Tinubu. He said the state should aim to deliver no fewer than 600,000 votes for the president in 2027.
Oyebanji commended Fayose for endorsing Akomolafe’s defection, describing it as a move that would further consolidate unity among political leaders in the state.
In his remarks, Fayose declared that although he would not defect from the PDP, he would mobilise his supporters to back Oyebanji’s re-election and support President Tinubu’s 2027 bid. Describing himself as the leader of the PDP in Ekiti, the former governor said the current administration had transformed governance in the state and deserved a second term.
He urged Akomolafe and his supporters to work for the success of the APC in the forthcoming elections, signalling a rare moment of cross-party cooperation in Ekiti’s political landscape.
