A former Governor of Ekiti State, Olusegun Oni, has formally defected from the Social Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Oni registered with the APC at his country home in Ifaki Ekiti, marking his official return to the party’s fold.

The Coordinator of the APC e-registration exercise in Ekiti State, Adesola Adedayo, disclosed the development on Monday in Ado Ekiti. Adedayo, who also serves as the state Commissioner for Youth Development, described Oni’s defection as a major boost to the party’s ongoing e-registration exercise.

He said the former governor’s registration on Sunday further strengthened the APC’s progressive base in Ekiti State.

Oni governed Ekiti State between 2007 and 2010 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party before contesting the 2022 governorship election as the candidate of the Social Democratic Party.

Adedayo described Oni as a resourceful and popular political figure whose experience and influence would add value to the APC and reinforce the party’s electoral dominance in the state.

According to him, Oni’s decision to leave the SDP for the APC represents a significant political realignment ahead of the 2026 Ekiti governorship election and the 2027 general elections.

He congratulated members of the APC in the state, noting that the former governor’s entry into the party would further energise the ongoing online registration exercise.

“On Sunday, we registered former Governor Segun Oni as a member of our great party. This significant political move will greatly support and strengthen our registration drive in Ekiti,” Adedayo said.