…Says Former PDP Flagbearer’s Entry Will Add a New Dimension to Ondo Opposition Politics
Former Ondo State governorship candidate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, has formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), weeks after resigning his membership of the PDP.
Jegede, a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State under the administration of former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, contested the governorship election on the PDP platform in 2016 and 2020.
His resignation from the PDP was conveyed in a letter dated August 7, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of the party in Ward 11, Owode/Imuagun Ward, Akure South Local Government Area.
In the letter titled “Resignation,” the Senior Advocate stated that his resignation took immediate effect.
“Kindly take this as a formal notice of my resignation as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, effective immediately,” Jegede wrote.
He subsequently confirmed his resignation to journalists, while indicating that he would announce his next political move.
That move has now been formalised with his entry into the ADC, placing the senior politician within the opposition coalition structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Responding to the development, the ADC candidate for Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency, Barrister Balarabe Abiodun Akinwumi, welcomed Jegede into the party, describing the development as significant to the evolving political space in Ondo State.
Akinwumi, who has maintained a close political relationship with Jegede, said the former PDP governorship candidate’s entry would provide another opportunity for members of the opposition to consolidate their structures and engage more closely with voters across the state.
“Today is a historic day for lovers of true democracy in Ondo State. The coming of our leader, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, into the ADC is not just a defection; it is a homecoming of hope, integrity and visionary leadership.
“We have been expecting him, and the ADC family is elated to receive a man whose record of service, legal eminence and love for the people is unquestionable,” Akinwumi said.
The ADC candidate also pointed to Jegede’s previous participation in two governorship elections as an indication of the experience he brings to the opposition platform.
“With Jegede now formally in ADC, the message is clear: Ondo State is ready for a new direction.
“The ADC is not sharing money; we are sharing hope, values and direction. We are mobilising house-to-house, street-to-street, ward-to-ward to rescue Ondo and Nigeria. This is the coalition of the people, led by credible men and women,” Akinwumi stated.
The development comes amid continuing political realignments among opposition politicians in Ondo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Several prominent political figures previously associated with the PDP have also become involved with the ADC and the broader opposition coalition. They include former Ondo South Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, Prof. Bode Ayorinde and former PDP State Chairman Bashorun Tola Alabere, who subsequently emerged as chairman of the Ondo State ADC.
Their movements, alongside Jegede’s formal entry, have added to the growing visibility of the ADC in the state’s opposition politics.
Akinwumi assured residents of Akure North and Akure South that his campaign would remain focused on representation and issues affecting constituents, while calling for greater participation in the political process.
