The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has refuted claims that its political structure has crumbled following the recent defection of its former Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode, and others to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The New Daily Prime reported that mass defection hit the party on Monday as prominent members joined APC following on the path of Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, who was the party’s 2023 governorship candidate.
Their defection, however, triggered speculations about a potential breakdown of PDP’s framework in the state.
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During the announcement of his switch, Amode claimed: “We have decided to collapse the entire PDP structure in Lagos State, from ward to the state level, to align with His Excellency, Handle to decamp en masse to the APC.”
Meanwhile, in a statement released on Tuesday by State Secretary, Soji Orioye, the party maintained that despite the departure of some members, its foundation in Lagos remains firm and unshaken.
However, the PDP dismissed his comments as baseless, arguing that Amode had long disengaged from the party’s internal activities and lacked the authority to speak on its structure.
Orioye noted, “The attention of the State Executive Committee has been drawn to social media videos and reports of the defection of Alhaji Hakeem Amode and others to the APC, where they were received by Jide Adediran (Jandor).
“As much as politics is about interest and those involved have followed their interest to the APC, we wish them well in their sojourn. However, 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.”
He added that Amode, who shifted his focus to campaign roles and neglected his duties as the party’s Publicity Secretary, had not participated in official party activities for a long time.
“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,” Orioye stated.
He also accused the defectors of betraying the PDP during the last general elections and described their return to the APC as a reunion with their political sponsors.
Despite recent developments, Orioye affirmed that the PDP remains active and fully engaged in preparations for the upcoming local government elections in Lagos, scheduled for 12 July 2025.
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“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 said.
Orioye called on PDP members and supporters to stay committed, assuring them that the party’s current leadership is working diligently to reposition and strengthen the organisation across the state.
While extending best wishes to those who left, he advised them to exercise discretion in their public statements regarding the PDP.
