The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is steadily positioning itself as a major opposition force in Ondo State ahead of the 2027 general elections, driven largely by high-profile defections from both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Among the most notable defections is former Senator Patrick Akinyelure, who represented Ondo Central in the 7th and 8th National Assemblies.
Akinyelure dumped the ruling APC after allegedly learning he would not be handed the party’s senatorial ticket for 2027.
Explaining his decision, Akinyelure said: “Since the APC gave me a red card, I had to move to where my interest and the interest of my people would be protected, which is the ADC.”
His defection provides the ADC with a seasoned politician who possesses significant influence in Ondo Central alongside an established political structure.
Similarly, the arrival of Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), a two-time PDP governorship candidate, has dramatically boosted the ADC’s profile in the state.
Beyond his personal standing, Jegede’s defection triggered a wave of floor-crossings by loyal supporters, party executives, and key political associates across Ondo’s 18 local government areas.
Prominent figures who followed Jegede out of the PDP include former Board of Trustees (BOT) member Chief Segun Adegoke, the incumbent PDP party chairmen for Ondo West and Owo Local Government Areas, alongside several former political officeholders and lawmakers.
Speaking at his formal reception, Jegede noted that his decision to pitch his tent with the ADC was aimed at liberating the state from the ruling APC.
Akure-based political analyst and legal practitioner Alexander Ojo believes Jegede’s entry has elevated the ADC’s electoral prospects.
“Jegede is not joining the ADC as an unknown quantity,” Ojo observed. “He comes with a ready-built political network, dedicated loyalists, cross-state experience, and a track record of contesting for the highest political office in Ondo.”
The ADC’s rising popularity stems from growing discontent within both the APC and PDP, where internal grievances, limited opportunities, and unresolved disputes have driven political figures toward alternative platforms.
The cumulative effect of these high-profile defections is reshaping expectations for 2027. The ADC is no longer viewed as a fringe outfit; the influx of former senators, gubernatorial candidates, lawmakers, and community leaders has substantially raised its political visibility and bargaining power.
Ojo added that the Ondo ADC chapter has also drawn national backing.
The recent visit of ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and Interim National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola to Akure to formally welcome Jegede underscores the party’s expanding national focus on Ondo.
He, however, noted that political popularity alone will not guarantee victory at the polls.
Ojo cautioned that the party must build robust grassroots structures, preserve internal cohesion, and present credible candidates.
“To become a formidable winning force, the party must quickly consolidate its expanding membership, harmonize competing interests among new entrants, and strengthen ward-level mobilization,” Ojo added. “It must also actively engage youth, women, and first-time voters while presenting clear policy alternatives.”
While the ADC’s primary success so far lies in attracting heavyweights from rival parties, its ultimate test will be whether it can convert these political figures into a unified electoral machine capable of unseating the APC in 2027.
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