Ekiti guber: Former PDP spokesman joins APC, gives reasons

Ahead of the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, the immediate past Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Raphael Adeyanju, has formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the need for political stability, effective governance and national rebirth.

Adeyanju announced his defection in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, while addressing journalists on Monday, saying his decision followed months of consultations with his family and political associates and personal reflection on the direction of the country.

He said the PDP, which he served as publicity secretary between 2020 and 2024, had become “chronically unstable” and no longer offered a credible platform for governance or national development.

ALSO READ: 2027: Crisis looms in ADC as Obidients carpet party spokesman

According to him, the opposition party is engulfed in internal crises marked by factional disputes, leadership tussles and incessant litigations, stressing that a party unable to manage its internal affairs cannot be trusted with the responsibility of governing a nation.

“The PDP has become a rudderless ship, driven by conflicting interests and personal grievances rather than a clear ideological vision for Nigeria,” Adeyanju said.

Explaining his decision to pitch tent with the APC, the former PDP spokesman described the ruling party as a more structured and disciplined platform, better positioned to deliver governance and national renewal at this critical time.

He noted that alignment with the party at the centre would enable Ekiti State to attract meaningful federal presence and benefit more from ongoing reforms under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Adeyanju specifically praised the President’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, saying the administration had shown courage in undertaking difficult but necessary reforms, including subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms and security restructuring.

“At the state level, the leadership style of Governor Biodun Oyebanji remains a clear example of calm, inclusive and development-driven governance,” he said, adding that the governor’s Shared Prosperity Agenda aligns with his belief in pragmatic, people-centred politics.

He described the APC as a progressive platform committed to social welfare, economic development and national integration, noting that these ideals resonate more with his personal political philosophy.

Adeyanju said his defection was not merely symbolic but a commitment to active participation, pledging to deploy his experience in political communication and grassroots mobilisation to strengthen the APC in Ekiti State for the forthcoming election and the 2027 elections.

According to him, ” I am joining the APC to work, to support its programs, educate the people on government policies, and further deepen the bond between the party and the people of Ekiti.”

While thanking the PDP for the opportunity to serve, Adeyanju said he harboured no grudges against the party, urging his supporters and other well-meaning Ekiti indigenes to join him in what he described as a new chapter of service to the state and the nation, saying, “My loyalty is now firmly with the All Progressives Congress. I am ready to serve.”