- Former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, has officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a major shift in the state’s political landscape.
- Mimiko cited President Bola Tinubu’s “progressive” initiatives, including the NELFUND student loan scheme and the push for state policing, as primary motivations for his defection.
- The move signals the final transition of the “Mimiko political structure” into the APC, aimed at securing a landslide victory for the ruling party in upcoming elections.
The political atmosphere in Ondo State was electrified on Thursday, May 14, 2026, as Olusegun Mimiko, a two-term former governor, formally registered with the APC at his Ward 7 secretariat in Ondo West Local Government.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Mimiko, who recently resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated that his decision was driven by a desire to support President Tinubu’s efforts in moving the country forward.
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He specifically lauded the administration’s commitment to decentralizing policing and democratizing education access through the national student loan initiative.
State APC Chairman, Kolawole Babatunde, described Mimiko’s arrival as a “homecoming” for a fellow progressive.
During his tenure from 2009 to 2016, Mimiko was widely recognized for his landmark achievements in healthcare, particularly the “Abiye” maternal health program, and urban renewal.
Babatunde noted that Mimiko’s pedigree aligns perfectly with President Tinubu’s current reform agenda, which continues to attract prominent political figures across the country.
Former House of Representatives member, Joseph Akinlaja, echoed these sentiments, noting that while many members of Mimiko’s inner circle had already migrated to the APC, the former governor’s personal entry completes the unification of their political forces.
With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, this defection is seen as a strategic move to solidify the APC’s dominance in the South-West, effectively neutralizing a major segment of the opposition in the “Sunshine State.”
