LAGOS — In a major political shake-up ahead of future elections, prominent leaders of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing irreconcilable internal crises, poor leadership, and a loss of direction within the PDP.
The defection, during a press briefing held in Ikeja on Monday, June 9, 2025, was led by the Publicity Secretary of the Lagos PDP, Barr. Hakeem Amode, alongside several former candidates, ward chairpersons, and top grassroots mobilisers.
Also joining the mass exodus to the APC were Mrs. Safurat Abdulkareem, a two-time PDP deputy governorship candidate; Chief Ola Apena, former Deputy Chairman of Lagos PDP; Prince Rufus Adeniyi; Pastor Gbenga Ogunleye; Jerry Afemikhe; and several PDP House of Assembly candidates from the 2023 general elections.
According to Amode, their decision to align with the APC and support the leadership of Dr. Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (popularly known as Jandor) stems from their disappointment in the PDP’s inability to reinvent itself as a formidable opposition in the state.
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“The PDP in Lagos has remained in a comatose state with no strategic direction or ideological focus. We have watched the party lose touch with the people it claims to represent,” Amode declared. “We believe that under Jandor’s leadership in the APC, we can channel our energies toward meaningful change.”
The Merit Newspaper reports that this mass defection further underlines the weakening structure of the PDP in Lagos, a state where it has struggled to unseat the ruling APC since the return to civilian rule in 1999. Political analysts believe this move could tilt the balance of influence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Jandor, the former PDP governorship candidate in 2023 who himself defected to the APC earlier this year, welcomed the defectors warmly, describing their decision as “bold and patriotic.”
‘These are not just names; they are political forces in their respective constituencies,” Jandor said. “Their decision to work with me in the APC shows that we are building a structure that is people-driven and results-oriented.”
In a joint communiqué issued by the defectors and made available to The Merit Newspaper, they emphasized their commitment to grassroots mobilization and strategic alignment toward developmental governance.
The PDP leadership in Lagos has yet to issue an official statement in response to the mass resignation and defection of its high-ranking members.
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Implications for 2027 Elections
Political observers note that the defection could reshape the political landscape of Lagos State. With many PDP structures now decimated, and key players switching allegiance to a reinvigorated APC faction under Jandor, the ruling party appears poised to strengthen its dominance — unless counter-moves emerge from opposition forces.
