A former spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Kennedy Peretei, has defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mr Peretei, who parted ways with the PDP a few months ago, defected to the APC alongside former Akoko North-West Local Government chairman and Social Democratic Party (SDP) chieftain, Olutope Adebambo, and 2020 SDP deputy governorship candidate, Rachael Ajayi.

Others are former PDP assistant state treasurer Blessing Ologun, a former aide to former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Omotayo Obolo, and other Action Alliance (AA) stalwarts.

The opposition figures, operating under the umbrella of Nigeria Workstation, announced their defection in a statement in Akure on Thursday.

In a copy of the statement signed by the director of mobilisation at the Nigeria Workstation, Mr Adebambo, the group described the mass defection as “a major political realignment ahead of future elections.”

The state chairman of the APC, Ade Adetimehin, will officially receive the defectors at an event slated for next Wednesday. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is also expected to attend the ceremony.

The opposition figures said the development marks “the collapse of major opposition structures in Ondo State” and further consolidates the APC’s strength ahead of forthcoming elections.

In April, Mr Peretei, known for criticising the APC-led administration, announced his resignation from the PDP in a letter addressed to the PDP chairman in Arogbo Ward 1 in the Ese Odo Local Government Area of the state.

The former PDP spokesman said he “quit as the PDP in Ondo State leaves the intensive-care unit for the morgue.”

His letter partly read, “I wish to inform you about my decision to quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as those who claim to be at the leadership of the party have no intention to win any elections, now or in the future. It is difficult to work with people whose interests are only themselves and how they can use the party to trade every election year.”