Former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on Wednesday formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a major political realignment in Ondo State and ending months of speculation over his political direction.

Mimiko was received into the APC at his Ward 7 Secretariat in Ondo West Local Government Area, Ondo City, where party executives, local government leaders, state officials, and supporters gathered to witness his formal admission into the ruling party.

The former governor had recently resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a move he said was necessary to clarify his political status after a prolonged period of reduced participation in party activities.

In his remarks after joining the APC, Mimiko said his decision was informed by his desire to support ongoing reforms and development efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

He said, “There are a lot of good things being done by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government, and though much more still needs to be done, I am coming in to lend my support to ongoing efforts to keep Nigeria on the path of peace, progress and genuine development.”

Mimiko also specifically declared support for the re-election of President Tinubu, describing it as a continuation of policies he believes are geared towards national development and stability.

He further commended the Federal Government’s National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing it as a key initiative that is democratizing access to higher education for Nigerian students.

He also expressed support for ongoing efforts to decentralise policing, noting that such reforms were necessary to improve security management across the country.

Mimiko’s entry into the APC comes after months of political speculation, even though several of his close associates had earlier defected to the ruling party ahead of previous elections, while he remained in the PDP but largely inactive.

His formal resignation from the PDP was earlier accompanied by a statement in which he explained that he needed to clear doubts about his political affiliation and formally disengage from the party.

At the reception event, the APC Ward 7 Executive, led by its chairman, formally welcomed Mimiko into the party, alongside executives from Ondo West Local Government and other grassroots party structures.

The State Chairman of the APC, Hon. Kolawole Babatunde, described Mimiko’s defection as a “homecoming,” saying his political ideology had always aligned with progressive politics.

Babatunde said the APC under President Tinubu was already delivering impactful reforms across key sectors of the economy, adding that Mimiko’s arrival would further strengthen the party’s structure and electoral fortunes in Ondo State.

He also reiterated the party’s commitment to unity, discipline, and internal democracy, urging members to remain focused ahead of future elections.

Also speaking, former House of Representatives member, Hon. Joseph Iranola Akinlaja, said Mimiko’s entry into the APC represented the final consolidation of his political movement within the ruling party in the state.

According to Akinlaja, many political associates of the former governor had earlier joined the APC, and his formal entry now completes the alignment.

He expressed confidence that the development would enhance the party’s cohesion and electoral strength ahead of upcoming elections.

The event was attended by several prominent political figures, including members of the Ondo State House of Assembly, former commissioners, political leaders, local government officials, party chieftains, and supporters from across Ondo State.