Lagos, Nigeria — In a significant political shake-up, several high-profile members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State have formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing deep-seated internal crises and a loss of party direction.
Led by the PDP’s Lagos State Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode, the defectors include former deputy governorship candidates, ex-party executives, and recent House of Assembly candidates. They described their exit as a necessary step following the PDP’s prolonged leadership instability, internal wrangling, and what they termed a drift from its founding principles.
“The PDP has become a shadow of what it once was. Factionalism, inconsistency, and poor leadership have crippled its relevance,” Amode stated during the official defection ceremony on Monday.
Among the notable defectors are:
Alhaja Safurat Abdulkareem, Former Deputy Governorship Candidate
Chief Ola Apena, Former Deputy Chairman, PDP Lagos
Prince Rufus Ademola Adeniyi, Former Assistant State Organizing Secretary (Lagos West)
Jerry Afemikhe (Olori Odo), Former House of Reps Candidate, Surulere 1
Pastor Gbenga Ogunleye, Spokesman to the 2023 PDP Governorship Candidate
Several 2023 Lagos PDP House of Assembly candidates, including Hon. Keshinro Abiodun (Epe), Akeem Jinadu (Eti-Osa), Hon. Ibrahim Balogun (Kosofe), Taofeek Obanikoro (Lagos Island), Tunde Pratt (Mainland), Saheed Aregbesola (Oshodi-Isolo), Sulaimon Thompson (Surulere), Taofeek Kuye (Ajeromi-Ifelodun), and Adeyemi Kazeem, former PDP Chairman, Ojo LGA.
The mass defection is seen as a major blow to the PDP’s structure in Lagos State and a boost to the APC’s dominance ahead of future elections.
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