Paragraph 1: The Exodus from Lagos PDP
The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) experienced a significant exodus as its spokesman, Hakeem Amode, along with numerous other party chieftains, announced their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This mass defection, unveiled at a press conference in Ikeja, sent shockwaves through the state’s political landscape. Amode cited the visionary leadership of Abdul-Azeez Adediran, also known as Jandor, the 2023 PDP governorship candidate who had previously switched allegiance to the APC, as the primary motivation for their decision. The departing members claimed to be collapsing the entire PDP structure in Lagos, from ward level to the state level, in a unified move to join forces with Jandor and the APC.
Paragraph 2: PDP’s Decline and the Defectors’ Rationale
The defectors painted a bleak picture of the PDP, both at national and state levels, portraying it as a party that had lost its way and deviated from its founding principles. Amode described the PDP as being "in a coma" and unlikely to survive without urgent intervention. He highlighted the party’s internal struggles, fragmented leadership, and lack of cohesion, particularly within the Lagos chapter, as contributing factors to their departure. While acknowledging their long and eventful tenure within the PDP, the defectors emphasized their commitment to serving the people and believed aligning with the APC offered a better path to achieving this goal. This move, after careful consideration and consultation, was not driven by personal ambition, they asserted, but by a desire to effectively deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Lagos State.
Paragraph 3: Corroborating Voices and Jandor’s Welcome
The defection narrative was further reinforced by other prominent figures who echoed Amode’s sentiments. Safurat Abdulkareem, a two-time PDP deputy governorship candidate, affirmed their determination to join the progressives in building a better Lagos. Chief Ola Apena, a former state PDP Deputy Chairman, declared the PDP irrelevant in the state, describing it as "dead" and in "complete limbo." Ibrahim Balogun, representing the 2023 PDP State House of Assembly candidates, expressed regret for his 18 years within the PDP and pledged his support for Tinubu in 2027, emphasizing Jandor’s visionary leadership. Jandor himself welcomed the defectors, proclaiming the successful collapse of the PDP structure into the APC.
Paragraph 4: Jandor’s Critique of PDP and Endorsement of APC
Jandor launched a scathing attack on the PDP, characterizing it as a "social club" lacking the will to win elections. He accused the Lagos PDP leadership of deliberately sabotaging the party’s chances for over two decades, thereby wasting people’s potential. He congratulated the departing leaders for recognizing the futility of remaining within a sinking ship and joining the APC, which he presented as the only viable political platform in Nigeria. Jandor’s critique of the PDP’s leadership underscored the defectors’ claims of a dysfunctional and ineffective party structure incapable of achieving electoral success.
Paragraph 5: The Roster of Defectors: A Detailed Account
The defection encompassed a wide range of PDP members, further emphasizing the scale of the exodus. Among those who abandoned the PDP for the APC were Prince Rufus Adeniyi, a former Assistant State Organising Secretary for Lagos West; Jerry Afemikhe, a former House of Representatives candidate in Surulere Constituency I; and numerous 2023 State House of Assembly candidates, including Keshinro Abiodun (Epe 1), Akeem Jinadu (Eti-Osa 1), Ibrahim Balogun (Kosofe 2), Taofeek Obanikoro (Lagos Island 1), Tunde Pratt (Lagos Mainland 2), Saheed Aregbesola (Oshodi-Isolo State 2), Sulaimon Thompson (Surulere 1), and Taofeek Kuye (Ajeromi-Ifelodun State 1). This extensive list highlighted the breadth of the defection across different levels of the PDP hierarchy.
Paragraph 6: Completing the Picture: Local Government and Campaign Officials
The wave of defections also extended to local government and campaign officials. Adeyemi Kazeem, the former PDP Chairman of Ojo Local Government, and Pastor Gbenga Ogunleye, media aide to the 2023 Lagos PDP Governorship Candidate, added their names to the growing list of those leaving the PDP. Their departure further underscored the comprehensive nature of the defections, impacting not only the state and constituency levels but also reaching down to the grassroots of the party structure. This mass exodus signifies a potential turning point in Lagos politics, raising questions about the future viability of the PDP in the state and the potential implications for the upcoming elections.
