The Lagos State PDP spokesman, Hakeem Amode, has defected from the main opposition party in the state to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), along with other big fishes.
The defectors included Mrs. Safurat Abdulkareem, a former Running Mate to Mr. Jimi Agbaje, a former Governorship Candidate.
They announced their defection at a news conference on Monday in Ikeja.
According to the former PDP spokesperson, the defectors were motivated and inspired by the visionary leadership of the 2023 State PDP governorship candidate, Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor), who had earlier moved to the APC.
Amode said: “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 level, 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.”
According to him, the tenure of the defectors within the PDP had been lengthy and eventful, characterised by both achievements and setbacks.
He said the majority of the defectors had the privilege of serving the PDP in various capacities, worked for change and did their best for their former party
Amode said, “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 said that PDP in Lagos, under the leadership of Philip Aivoji, had been fractured and disunited.
Blaming poor leadership and lack of cohesion in the party for the decision, Amode said, “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 said that the decision to leave PDP was not driven by personal ambition, but to serve society better.
Speaking, Safurat Abdulkareem, a two-time state PDP deputy governorship candidate, said the defectors were determined to follow the progressives to make the state better.
Also speaking, a former state PDP deputy chairman, Ola Apena, stated that the PDP had no relevance in the state anymore.
“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.
Speaking on behalf of the 2023 PDP state House of Assembly candidates, Ibrahim Balogun, who flew the party’s flag in Kosofe, said he wasted time by staying in PDP for 18 years.
“We will work for Tinubu in 2027. We are going en masse into APC. Jandor is a visionary leader to follow because he is a man of the people,” Mr Balogun said.
Also, Mr Adediran, who congratulated the defectors, said, ” We have successfully collapsed the entire structure of the PDP into APC now.
“There is no point in belonging to a political party that has no determination and purpose of winning elections. PDP is a social club, not interested in winning.
“Lagos State PDP leadership is ensuring that the party does not win, and the party has been doing this for over two decades now, wasting people’s destiny.”
Other PDP leaders who defected to the APC included Rufus Adeniyi, a former PDP assistant state organising secretary (Lagos West), and Jerry Afemikhe (Olori Odo), a former PDP House of Representatives candidate in Surulere Constituency I.
Some 2023 PDP Lagos State House of Assembly candidates who defected from the party included Keshinro Abiodun (Epe 1), Akeem Jinadu (Eti-Osa 1), and 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) also dumped PDP for APC.
Adeyemi Kazeem, the former PDP chairman in Ojo Local Government, and Gbenga Ogunleye, media aide to the 2023 Lagos PDP governorship candidate, also defected.
