Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, widely known as JANDOR, has formally received several key members of the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into the All Progressives Congress (APC). The event marks a significant realignment within the political structure of the state.
According to Tribune Online, the defectors included members of the State Executive Council (SEC) of the Lagos PDP, led by the party’s spokesperson, Hon. Hakeem Amode. Some former candidates from the last general elections also joined the APC.
Among those who defected were Prince Rufus Ademola Adeniyi, former Assistant State Organising Secretary of PDP (Lagos West); Hon. Jerry Afemikhe (Olori Odo), former PDP House of Representatives Candidate for Surulere Constituency I; Pastor Gbenga Ogunleye, spokesman to the 2023 Lagos PDP Governorship Candidate; Hon. Keshinro Abiodun, 2023 Lagos PDP LAHA Candidate for Epe State Constituency I; Hon. Akeem Jinadu, 2023 PDP LAHA Candidate for Eti-Osa State Constituency I; and Hon. Ibrahim Balogun, 2023 PDP LAHA Candidate for Kosofe State Constituency II.
JANDOR, who was the PDP governorship candidate in the 2023 elections before his return to the APC, described the movement as a deliberate political step. He stated that the PDP in Lagos had now been absorbed into the APC.
He pointed to the lack of direction in the PDP both in Lagos and nationally as a driving force behind the defections.
JANDOR emphasized that while the Lagos APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, would host a formal reception later, the gathering at Liberty House on Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, marked the beginning of the defectors’ political journey within the APC.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Hon. Amode explained that their decision followed “thorough introspection and extensive consultation.” He reflected on their experiences in the PDP, noting that despite their dedication, the party’s internal divisions had made progress impossible.
“The PDP has deviated from the values that once made it the largest and most respected political platform on the continent. Today, it is riddled with internal crises, unresolved legal disputes, and a disunited leadership,” Amode said.
He criticized the leadership of the Lagos PDP under Hon. Philip Aivoji, citing poor organisation and strategic failures that contributed to the party’s losses in the 2023 elections.
“Victory is impossible under such circumstances, and today we are taking control of our political destinies to better serve the people of Lagos State,” Amode declared.
Article updated 4 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
