The 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has declared that the PDP has lost faith in itself due to persistent internal crises.
Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday, Jandor, who dumped the PDP on Monday, cited the leadership crisis at the party’s national headquarters as a major reason for his decision to quit.
The acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, has faced mounting criticism from party members, many of whom blame him for the PDP’s deepening woes following the exit of Iyorchia Ayu.
The crisis has been exacerbated by a dispute over the National Secretary position, with both Senator Samuel Anyanwu and former National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, claiming the role.
Tensions within the Board of Trustees, National Working Committee, and National Executive Committee have further divided the party, particularly in the South-South, where a Zonal Congress was held on February 22 without the approval of the governors.
Jandor described the turmoil at both the national and state levels as deeply damaging to the PDP’s public image.
“Who goes around posting that they are a member of PDP these days? With what is happening at both the national and state levels, the optics are bad. Even the party itself has given up,” he said.
“A political party is made up of people who come together to build it. But if toxicity persists within the system, the same problems will remain. Today, those who once worked against the PDP are the ones leading it. So where do we start from?”
He further argued that with congresses scheduled for 2025 and primary elections in 2026, the PDP will likely remain under the control of the same individuals, making any real change impossible.
“If you still have the same set of people in charge, you can’t expect different results,” he added.
Following his resignation from the PDP, Jandor said he had not yet decided on his next political move.
“We have 18 political parties in Nigeria, so there are 17 other options. But we will consult and decide. There are also coalitions forming, with people coming together to explore new possibilities,” he said.
He emphasized that, regardless of where he ends up, he will respect the leadership and rules of any new party he joins.
“This is the path we have chosen, and we are not deviating. Only God determines the future,” he said.
The PUNCH
