A major shake-up has hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State as its spokesperson, Hakeem Amode, and many other important PDP leaders have left to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
This big move was announced at a press conference on Monday in Ikeja, Lagos. Amode explained that he and others were inspired by the 2023 PDP candidate for governor, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, also known as Jandor, who had already joined the APC.
Amode stated that they decided to bring down the entire PDP setup in Lagos – from the smallest local groups all the way up to the state level – to join the APC with Jandor. He said the PDP, both nationally and in Lagos, has lost its way and is now in a "coma," struggling with a lot of problems and an unclear future. He felt the party was no longer true to its original goals.
He mentioned that their time in the PDP was long, with good times and bad, and they had tried their best to make a difference. But after thinking deeply and talking to many people, they felt it was time for a new direction. He stressed that this wasn't a quick decision but a carefully considered one to take charge of their political future and better serve the people who support them.
Amode also criticized the Lagos PDP under its current leader, Philip Aivoji, saying it's broken and not working together well. He believes this poor leadership has cost them a lot. He confirmed that they have officially resigned from the PDP and are now with the APC, having sent their resignation letters to their local party leaders. He added that their decision to leave wasn't for personal gain, but to work with the APC to bring real benefits to everyone in Lagos.
Safurat Abdulkareem, who was a PDP deputy governorship candidate twice, said they are determined to work with the progressives (APC) to improve the state. Chief Ola Apena, a former state PDP Deputy Chairman, strongly stated that the "PDP is dead" in the state and has no importance anymore.
Ibrahim Balogun, who ran for the state House of Assembly for PDP in Kosofe in 2023, regretted staying with the PDP for 18 years. He vowed to work for President Tinubu in 2027 and praised Jandor as a visionary leader.
Jandor welcomed the new members, saying they had successfully merged the whole PDP structure into the APC. He believes there's no point in being part of a party that doesn't aim to win elections, calling the PDP a "social club" that has been wasting people's potential for over two decades by not trying to win. He concluded that the PDP is a "sinking ship" and the APC is the only strong party in Nigeria today.
Other notable PDP figures who moved to the APC include Prince Rufus Adeniyi, a former Assistant State Organising Secretary, and Jerry Afemikhe, a former House of Representatives candidate. Several 2023 PDP candidates for the Lagos State House of Assembly also joined the APC, along with a former PDP Local Government Chairman and Jandor's media aide.
