Former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko has officially joined the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, marking a major political shift ahead of the 2027 elections.

Mimiko formalised his membership on Wednesday after arriving at the APC secretariat in Ondo West Local Government Area, where he was welcomed by party leaders and supporters.

Among top officials who received the former governor were Ondo APC Chairman Babatunde Kolawole and Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji.

The atmosphere at the secretariat was reportedly filled with excitement as party members cheered the former governor’s arrival into the ruling party.

Mimiko, who governed Ondo State from 2009 to 2017, had earlier resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party in April, fueling speculations about his next political move.

Before his time in the PDP, the former governor was one of the most influential figures within the Labour Party, where he built a strong political structure and played key roles both in Ondo State and at the national level.

Political insiders say Mimiko’s return to frontline politics comes after a relatively quiet period during which he still maintained significant influence through loyalists and grassroots networks across the state.

Sources familiar with the development described his defection as a strategic gain for the APC, especially in Ondo Central Senatorial District, where Mimiko is believed to still command considerable political support.

According to party stakeholders, the former governor’s political experience, structure, and grassroots appeal could strengthen the APC’s position ahead of future elections in the state.

A former spokesman to Mimiko, Akinsola, also confirmed the development, stating that arrangements had already been concluded for the former governor’s official reception into the ruling party.

The latest defection adds to the growing wave of political realignments currently reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape as parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections.