The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has lashed Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, for defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC ahead of 2027 general election.

The PDP reacted to the news of Adediran’s defection to APC which he announced at a press conference on Monday in Lagos.

The former PDP’s Governorship candidate in the 2023 general election had on March 3 tendered his resignation from the party, citing the lack of discipline and leadership betrayal in the party fold.

The leader of a movement – Lagos4Lagos Movement, was previous a member of APC before he defected to the PDP and contested governorship on the party’s platform before returning to the APC again.

Reacting to his defection in an interview with journalists on Monday, the Deputy Chairman of the PDP in Lagos, Tai Benedict, said Jandor was never “our own” and was allegedly planted by the APC to destabilise the PDP.
Benedict said, “He was never our own. He was an agent sent to our party to destroy our party. The very first time I saw him, I told him to explain – that you are an agent of the APC, sent to our party because they knew we had a bright chance to win that election.

“Although he denied it, eventually, I was vindicated. This was somebody who came to the party, and the first thing he did was to start accusing the leaders and the next thing he did was to disorganise a united party to the national level until he got the ticket of our party from the back.

“You know, it’s very unfortunate, very unfortunate. We have never had it so badly. But all I have to say is we thank God. We’re okay with his exit.

“He came, he singularly picked his running mate. It has never happened. He said because Funke (Akindele) had over three million followers on Instagram, that will make his victory (at the 2023 governorship poll) easier. But we had only 62,000 votes.”

“For me, I thank God that he has left our party. It’s not a good thing to lose membership in parties, I quite agree with that. It’s not good to lose your members to other parties. But there are some members that if they leave, you’ll be happy. One of such members is Jandor.”

The party’s publicity secretary, Seye Oladejo, in an interview with The PUNCH on Monday, said the APC was ready to work with Jandor.

Oladejo said, “Like all politicians, Jandor came to the party with ambition. At the time, that could be realised quickly on the platform of the conservatives, which has been rejected at the polls several times by the people of Lagos.

“So, now that he’s back, we’re happy to work with him. We appreciate the fact that Lagos has been better and safer in the hands of the progressives, who have enjoyed uninterrupted trust and confidence from the people.
“We believe in our party that there is sufficient opportunity for him, like many others, to contribute his quota to the continual success of our government and growth of our party.”

He said the party was expecting more politicians to defect to the APC.

“In the days ahead, we’re expecting more decamps as we approach the next election.”

Dismissing the PDP’s claim that the APC planted Jandor to destablise the opposition, Oladejo said, “It shows how inept ideas this so-called opposition is.”

“We’re talking about a party that’s perpetually in crisis. We’re talking about a party that can’t organise itself, and they want to govern. The electorates in Lagos are informed, they are sophisticated.

“They’re just looking for excuses to justify their incompetence, and the fact that they’re incapable of mobilising whatever modicum of support they have for election victory.”

Following the defection of the former governor of Kaduna State and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Malam Nasir El-Rufai to the Social Democratic Party, SDP, the ex-Presidential flagbearer of the party in the 2023 general election, Barrister Adewole Adebayo said, he will be the party’s candidate in 2027.

Adewole stated this amid speculations that El-Rufai defecting to the party may want to highjack the leadership to supplant to presidential candidate in the 2027 election that would stop President Bola Tinubu from second term of office.

Adewole, speaking on Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’ on Friday, March 14, 2025, said he is not intimidated by the heavy weight politicians defectring into the party.

When asked if he’s worried about the ‘heavy-weight’ politicians joining the SDP, Adewole said he is not worried by the claim that the high-profile politicians defecting to the party can push him aside.

El-Rufai said he defected to the SDP as a result of APC’s lack of leadership sincerity, accusing APC leaders of fuelling their selfish ambition against the yearnings of Nigerians.
Since last week that El-Rufai defected, he has been rallying round other topnotch political office holders to join him in SDP with a view to form alliance ahead of 2027 to stop the ruling APC which he insisted has derailed.

But Adebayo said: “Let us understand something. I don’t worry about that; everybody who is coming in knows I will run in 2027.”

He added, “Any coward who will feel threatened by people coming to his party can not be president.”

Adewole also said President Bola Tinubu will be defeated in 2027, and an SDP president will emerge.

“Tinubu is going to be removed from power, that one is sure, and there would be an SDP president,” he asserted.

On coalition, he said the SDP is not yet discussing alliances with any party, adding that political parties that want a coalition can approach the party.

The APC Professional Network, an umbrella body for professionals within the All Progressives Congress (APC), has described the defection of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as a major betrayal.

Despite his move to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the group maintains that the situation is not beyond resolution.

In a statement released on Saturday, the group’s President-General, Victor Walsh Oluwafemi, emphasized El-Rufai’s significance within the APC, stating, “Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has played a crucial role in the APC’s growth and governance objectives. His departure, coupled with his recent comments, is both unexpected and disappointing. It raises concerns about party loyalty, consistency, and the commitment needed to build a stronger APC.”

While acknowledging El-Rufai’s right to political association, Oluwafemi noted the impact of such moves on the party’s integrity and unity.

He reaffirmed the APC Professional Network’s dedication to the party’s core values of good governance, accountability, and development.

“As professionals within the APC, we urge our members and supporters to remain calm, focused, and resolute,” he said. “This development must not derail our collective mission of advancing the party’s agenda for a prosperous and united Nigeria, he said”.

The group further called on party leaders at all levels to reinforce internal cohesion and address concerns that could trigger further defections.
“Now, more than ever, the APC must demonstrate leadership, unity, and resolve,” Oluwafemi stressed.

He assured members that the network remains committed to strengthening the party and ensuring its continued success.