Lagos PDP Spokesman, Others Join APC

Hakeem Amode, the spokesperson for the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has officially left the party to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Amode made the announcement alongside other PDP leaders during a press briefing held on Monday in Ikeja, Lagos.

He explained that their decision to defect was largely influenced by the leadership qualities of Abdul-Azeez Adediran, the PDP’s 2023 gubernatorial candidate in Lagos, who had previously joined the APC.

“It is with great honour and a profound sense of responsibility that we stand before you today to announce a pivotal decision; one that marks a significant turning point not just for us as individuals, but for many committed political stakeholders who have journeyed with us over the years.

“Today, we have decided to collapse the entire PDP structure in Lagos State, from ward to the state level, to align with His Excellency Jandor to decamp en masse to the APC.

“The PDP, both at the national and state levels, has lost its way.

“The party has deviated from the founding ideals that once made it the largest and most respected political platform in Africa.

“Today, its future is riddled with tension and uncertainty.

“The PDP is in a coma and may not survive unless urgent measures are taken,” Amode stated.

He noted that their time in the PDP had been long and filled with both accomplishments and difficulties.

According to Amode, many of the defectors had served in various roles within the party, working hard to bring about change and serve the PDP to the best of their ability.

He added, “However, after thorough introspection and extensive consultation, we believe it is time to chart a new course.

“This decision has not been made lightly.

“It reflects our commitment to taking control of our political destinies in order to better serve our people and the loyal supporters who continue to stand by us.”

Amode criticized the current state of the PDP in Lagos, saying the party under Philip Aivoji’s leadership is fragmented and disorganized.

“Poor leadership and a lack of cohesion have cost us dearly.

“Today, we, alongside several former PDP candidates at various levels, national, local government executives, ward leaders, and key stakeholders across Lagos, formally resign from the PDP and align ourselves with the APC.

“We have submitted our letters of resignation to our respective ward chairmen, local government chairmen, and the state leadership of the PDP,” he stated.

He emphasized that the defection was not out of personal ambition but from a desire to contribute meaningfully to society.

“We are determined to work with our new partners in the APC to deliver the true dividends of democracy to every corner of our great state,” Amode added.

Safurat Abdulkareem, a former PDP deputy governorship candidate who ran twice, stated that the defectors are committed to joining the progressives in working towards a better Lagos.

In his remarks, Chief Ola Apena, a former Deputy Chairman of the state PDP, asserted that the party no longer holds significance in Lagos.

“The PDP is dead. There is no more PDP.

“The party is in complete limbo and we don’t know whether it will be up,” he said.

Representing PDP’s 2023 House of Assembly candidates, Ibrahim Balogun, who contested in Kosofe, expressed regret over his prolonged stay in the party.

“We will work for Tinubu in 2027. We are going en masse into the APC.

“Jandor is a visionary leader to follow because he is a man of the people,” Balogun said.

Jandor congratulated the defectors, celebrating the full integration of the PDP structure into the APC.

“We have successfully collapsed the entire structure of the PDP into the APC now.

“There is no point in belonging to a political party that has no determination and purpose of winning elections. The PDP is a social club, not interested in winning.

“Lagos State PDP leadership is ensuring that the party does not win and the party had been doing this for over two decades now, wasting people’s destiny.

“I congratulate these PDP leaders for joining me in the APC.

“The PDP is a sinking ship. In Nigeria of today, there is no other viable platform apart from the APC,” Adediran said.

Among the notable defectors were Prince Rufus Adeniyi, former Assistant State Organising Secretary (Lagos West), and Mr. Jerry Afemikhe (Olori Odo), a former PDP candidate for the House of Representatives in Surulere Constituency I.

Other 2023 Lagos PDP House of Assembly candidates who left the party include 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 2), Sulaimon Thompson (Surulere 1), and Taofeek Kuye (Ajeromi-Ifelodun 1).

Also among those who joined the APC were Adeyemi Kazeem, former PDP Chairman in Ojo Local Government and Pastor Gbenga Ogunleye, former media aide to the 2023 Lagos PDP governorship candidate.