Akinyelure and Edema Abandon APC, Eye 2027 Under ADC Banner

The Shift from Ruling Party to Opposition

Former members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Senator Ayo Akinyelure and Gbenga Edema, have finally pulled the plug on their relationship with the ruling party. They made their move official in Akure, declaring their new loyalty to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) just as the 2027 election horizon begins to cloud over. For voters, this isn't just a change of party cards; it represents a major realignment of political heavyweights within the state.

Akinyelure, a seasoned lawmaker who spent two terms in the Nigerian Senate, is wasting no time. He has already secured his ticket as the ADC candidate for the Ondo Central Senatorial District. He describes his departure as an act of necessity, claiming that the APC structure in the state had become a shadow of its former self. He highlighted a complete breakdown in party hierarchy where he says everyone now acts like an island, leading to a situation where experienced hands are ignored in favor of whoever has the loudest influence.

Winning an election is about getting the right platform to contest, not one riddled with problems and multiple candidates who rely only on money, not credibility.

Grievances Against the APC Establishment

For Akinyelure, the breaking point was personal. Despite his long tenure in the upper legislative chamber, he felt marginalized by the party he once represented. He argued that when a politician is not recognized by his own house, he effectively becomes an outsider with a target on his back. He believes the party culture in Ondo has shifted toward magnifying the errors of loyalists while burying their achievements, a dynamic that made his continued presence untenable.

Gbenga Edema, who is now the ADC candidate for the Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency, added his own layer of frustration. He characterized the current state of the APC as a marketplace where appointments are sold rather than earned through hard work or merit. According to Edema, this shift toward commercializing political positions has opened the door for people with no track record of service to occupy federal roles simply because they had the cash to pay for the privilege.

He further explained that if someone buys their way into office, the natural instinct becomes recovering their investment rather than serving the public. This belief in a broken incentive structure drove him to seek out a party that he believes holds a higher standard for leadership. He insists that he has dropped his ego to focus on the demands of his constituents who pushed him to run for the House of Representatives.

Lessons from Previous Political Detours

This isn't Edema's first time switching sides. He previously left the APC for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in 2024. However, that marriage lasted about as long as a harmattan shower. He lost faith in the NNPP leadership after they rushed to congratulate Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa before the election results were even officially finalized. That single act of political prematurity was enough to convince him that the party lacked the integrity he was looking for.

He now frames his move to the ADC as a return to a more disciplined environment. He points to the current leadership of the party as a key motivator, noting that the party’s current setup looks nothing like its previous versions. He brings significant experience to his new home, having served in the State House of Assembly, chaired the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), and performed roles at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Looking Toward 2027

Akinyelure remains bullish about his electoral chances. He has gone as far as calculating his probability of success at 80 to 90 percent, provided that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ensures a free and fair playing field. He claims to have already documented his legislative achievements during his time in the Senate to show his constituents that his performance record speaks louder than party politics.

Whether this gamble pays off will depend on how the voting public in Ondo reacts to these high-profile defections. In a state where party loyalty is often tested by the quality of internal democracy, the move by these two men signals that the fight for 2027 is already well underway. They are betting that the electorate will prioritize individual credibility over the massive machinery of the ruling party. For now, the ADC has gained two veteran campaigners who know exactly how the political game is played in the corridors of Akure.