The Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has firmly rejected assertions that its structure has collapsed following the defection of its former Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode, and several others to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the party's State Secretary, Soji Orioye, the PDP maintained that despite these defections, the party in Lagos remains robust and intact.
Defection Claims and Counter-Claims
Amode and other defectors were welcomed into the APC by Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, who was the APC's 2023 governorship candidate. The move sparked speculation about a mass exodus and potential disintegration of the PDP structure in Lagos.
During his defection announcement, Amode boldly claimed, "We have decided to collapse the entire PDP structure in Lagos State, from ward to the state level."
However, the Lagos PDP leadership described such assertions as "laughable," stating that Amode had long distanced himself from party activities and was therefore not in a position to speak about the state of the party's structure.
"The claim by Amode that they have collapsed the PDP structure in the state is laughable and can only be described as a comic remark," Orioye stated in the release.
PDP's Response to Defectors
According to Orioye, Amode had abandoned his official role as PDP Publicity Secretary to focus on campaign duties and had not attended party meetings for a considerable period.
"We wonder how someone who abandoned his office as state publicity secretary and became campaign publicity secretary and hasn't attended a meeting in a very long while understands the party restructuring, not to talk about collapsing the structure you are no more part of," he questioned.
The statement further accused the defectors of betraying the PDP during the last general elections, suggesting that their recent move to the APC was simply a return to their "paymasters."
Preparations for Upcoming Elections
Despite the defection, Orioye affirmed that the PDP is actively preparing to contest the July 12, 2025 local government elections across Lagos with "formidable candidates at the ward and council levels."
"One may ask, can a party whose structure has supposedly collapsed be fielding candidates across all levels for an election? The answer is clear," he emphasized.
The PDP leadership urged its members and supporters to remain focused, assuring them that the current leadership is committed to rebuilding the party into a strong and victorious force in Lagos.
While extending well wishes to the defectors, Orioye cautioned them to exercise restraint in their public statements regarding the PDP.
The party maintains that its structure in Lagos "remains solid and is progressing, especially after healing from internal wounds inflicted by Jandor and his allies."
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