Why I returned to APC, Jandor

PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESS BY DR. ABDUL-AZEEZ OLAJIDE ADEDIRAN (JANDOR), FORMER LAGOS STATE PDP GOVERNORSHIP CANDIDATE ON MONDAY, 17TH MARCH 2025.

Gentlemen of the Press, Precisely on Monday 3rd March 2025, we announced our resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party because of the inability of the national leadership of the party to, in line with the provisions of its constitution, instill still discipline and condemn the anti-party activities carried out by some of the party leaders in the 2023 general elections.

Since then, we have engaged in very wide consultations with our political associates and teeming followers and supporters across the state. We have equally had series of engagement with various political interests and parties across the country in our quest to choose a platform for the expression of our vision and aspiration for the betterment of the good people of Lagos State.

In the process of consultation, we had crucial discussions with some leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), All Progressive Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Young Progressive Party (YPP) among others. We equally had truth-sharing engagement with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the national level on the likelihood of rescinding our resignation from the party if the identified wrongs could be corrected.

While PDP at the national level was on our neck to rescind our decision of resigning from the party, the state chapter in Lagos has chosen a campaign of calumny against us and what we represent. I listened to all their vituperations in the media and reasons given for our loss at the polls. Gentlemen of the Press, I appeal that you ask their Supreme Leader, Chief OlabodeGeorge whenever he appears on your medium, why he hasn’t won his polling unit for PDP since he joined the party over 20 years ago. I am sure he will tell you it was because of JANDOR.

Please put the same question to others who had suddenly found their voices after my exit from their party, ask and challenge them to produce their polling unit results for Atiku in the last election or was Atiku; one of the founding Fathers of PDP also a ‘problem’ just like JANDOR?

I won my polling unit for PDP in both the Presidential and Governorship elections, even the Lagos PDP Chairman who released a false statement on the eve of election that party members should work and vote for another party, could not deliver for the other party he canvassed for. We defeated him in front of his house. Our story in the PDP was a case of working with perennial political saboteurs but we have resolved to love our future much more than we hate our past.

After extensive consultations with family, political associates, elder statemen, supporters, and well-meaning Lagosians who share our vision for a greater and more prosperous Lagos, and in identifying that the primary reason a political party exists is to win elections and ultimately form the government to contribute to the welfare, security and total development of the people, wewish to formally announce that we have decided to join a political party that considers winning for its members as top priority, not minding who is on the ballot.

We have decided to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Before you are quick to remind me of the reasons upon which we left APC in the first place, let me respond with a popular Yoruba adage that says if a woman has not tried two husbands, she probably would not know which is better.

In APC, we have a leader, even if you fault his selection choices, you can’t fault his desire to always win for his party to the benefit of all members, followers and the state. While in Lagos PDP, you have a leader that will, at every election cycle work against his own party, and willfully dash the hopes of many party members and followers. We have chosen the better alternative.

Rwanda begin preparations for Super Eagles clash

Lagos men spent N661b on sex in 2024 – Report

Court orders arraignment of First Bank ex-chairman, Otudeko, MD over N12.3bn fraud