By Akinwale Kasali
There is mass exodus of members of opposition Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State. This is just as the Party’s spokesman, Hakeem Amode, who just dumped the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC has declared it dead.
Amode left the Party alongside other PDP Chieftains in the State. They announced their defection at a Press Conference in Ikeja, Lagos.
Amode disclosed that he and other defectors were motivated and inspired by the visionary leadership of the 2023 PDP Governorship candidate, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, who had earlier moved to the APC.
The former PDP Spokesperson 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 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 said.
He further stated that the tenure of the defectors within the PDP had been lengthy and eventful, characterised by both achievements and setbacks.
He said that 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
He 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 stated that the PDP in Lagos, under the leadership of Philip Aivoji, had been fractured and disunited.
He added that Poor leadership and lack of cohesion have cost the PDP dearly, with Aivodji playing dumb to the Cries of the Party members.
“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.
He however noted that the decision to leave the PDP was not driven by personal ambition, clarified that defecting to the APC was to serve the society better.
“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.
Safurat Abdulkareem, a two-time State PDP Deputy Governorship candidate, said that the defectors were determined to follow the progressives to make the state better.
In the same vein, Ola Apena, a former state PDP Deputy Chairman in the State said the PDP had no relevance in the state anymore.
“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.
Speaking on behalf of 2023 PDP State House of Assembly Candidates, Ibrahim Balogun, who flew the party’s flag in Kosofe, said he wasted time by staying in the PDP for 18 years.
“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.
Other PDP leaders, who dumped the party for the APC included Prince 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 dumped the Party includes; 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) also dumped PDP for APC.
Adeyemi Kazeem:former PDP Chairman, Ojo Local Government; Gbenga Ogunleye, Media aide to the 2023 Lagos PDP Governorship Candidate were also among those who defected to the ruling APC.
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