Leaders of the People’s Democratic Party are urging estranged party member and Lagos governorship candidate Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor) to reconsider his resignation amid internal party turmoil and allegations of betrayal.
Barely 48 hours after his resignation, party leaders, including the National Secretary, Mr. Ude Okoye, along with former National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, and ex-House of Representatives member, Mr. Shina Peller, visited Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor in his Abuja office, pleading with him to reconsider his decision and withdraw his resignation.
Jandor, who was the Party’s Lagos Sate governorship candidate in 2023 has been a prominent figure in Lagos politics and the leader of the Lagos4Lagos Movement. He announced his exit from the party on Monday. In his resignation statement, delivered by his spokesperson Mr. Gbenga Ogunleye during a press briefing in Lagos, Adediran cited betrayal by party elders and a lack of discipline within the PDP as his primary reasons for leaving. This decision not only created a leadership void but also raised serious concerns about the internal management and direction of the party in Lagos State.
The move to visit Adediran aka Jandor in his Abuja office was seen as a significant and high-stakes intervention by the PDP leadership. The delegation’s visit was intended to underscore the importance of unity and stability within the party at a time when Lagos is considered one of Nigeria’s most crucial political battlegrounds. Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the leaders expressed their understanding of the concerns raised by Adediran while emphasizing the need for cohesion and mutual trust within the party ranks.
During the meeting, the delegation made it clear that they recognized the issues raised by Adediran regarding the alleged betrayal and internal crisis. Their personal intervention was meant to offer reassurance that the party leadership was committed to addressing these challenges head-on. They stressed that while internal differences and grievances are inevitable in any political organization, these should be resolved through dialogue and collaboration rather than leading to division. The visit was not just about persuading Adediran to return—it was also a public demonstration of the PDP’s willingness to engage directly with its dissenting members and rebuild the trust that had been lost.
Adediran’s resignation, which saw him leaving with supporters from across 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, highlights deeper issues within the PDP. The resignation statement emphasized a sense of disillusionment with party leadership, suggesting that internal mismanagement and a lack of effective discipline had created an environment where loyal members felt betrayed. The fact that such a significant figure within the party chose to leave so abruptly has far-reaching implications for the PDP’s credibility and organizational strength in Lagos State.
In response to the visit, Adediran, through his spokesperson Mr. Gbenga Ogunleye, acknowledged the support shown by the delegation. He expressed his willingness to collaborate with his friends and supporters despite the differences in political alignment that had come to light. This response suggests that while Adediran remains firm in his principles and the reasons behind his resignation, there remains a possibility for reconciliation if his concerns are addressed adequately.
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