Speculation Rife Over Segun Oni’s Return to APC After Meeting with Tinubu

Amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, former governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni, is once again at the center of speculation following his appearance at a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu and key Ekiti political leaders.

Though no official statement has been released, many believe the meeting signals Oni’s possible return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The meeting, which held at the Presidential Villa on July 24, 2025, was attended by Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, and other influential political figures from the state. Sources familiar with the discussions say the focus was on strengthening the APC’s presence in Ekiti and exploring reconciliation with aggrieved stakeholders.

Segun Oni, who governed Ekiti State under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 2007 to 2010, has had a complex political journey. He first defected to the APC in 2014 but returned to the PDP in 2020 after alleging marginalization.

In 2022, he left the PDP once again to contest the governorship election under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where he emerged as the runner-up behind the APC’s Biodun Oyebanji.

Although Oni has not made any public declaration, his appearance at the State House meeting is seen by political observers as a strategic step toward reintegration into the APC.

Analysts note that with the SDP lacking the national structure and momentum needed to challenge the dominant parties in 2027, a return to the APC could be both tactical and inevitable for Oni.

Supporters of the former governor appear divided.

While some view the potential return to APC as a practical move to remain politically relevant, others believe it undermines his earlier stance against what he described as the party’s exclusionary politics. Within APC ranks, however, there are growing indications that the party leadership may welcome Oni’s return to broaden its coalition ahead of future elections.

As of now, no official statement has been made either by Segun Oni or by the APC confirming the defection. Nonetheless, the political atmosphere in Ekiti remains charged, with many watching closely to see whether the former governor will once again align himself with the party he once abandoned.