Lagos PDP Backs Adeleke’s Exit, Cites Party Instability and Leadership Crisis

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has defended Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s decision to quit the party ahead of the 2026 governorship election, describing the move as a logical response to the PDP’s lingering internal crisis.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, the PDP Vice Chairman for Lagos Central, Hakeem Olalemi, said Adeleke acted in his best political interest due to the party’s unresolved leadership tussles and weakened national structure.

According to him, the PDP remains deeply fragmented and unable to provide the institutional support required for a sitting governor seeking a second term.

Olalemi pointed out that despite the emergence of new national officers at the party’s November convention in Ibadan, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, still recognises the previous national leadership under Ambassador Umar Damagum and Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

This situation, he said, raises a fundamental question about who would sign Adeleke’s nomination forms in 2026 if he remained in the party.

“No governor would risk his mandate on a platform grappling with legitimacy issues,” Olalemi said, adding that Adeleke’s exit was driven by political survival rather than disloyalty.

He argued that the persistent internal conflicts have made the PDP unattractive and unreliable for any serious contender.

Olalemi also accused some influential governors of exacerbating the crisis to protect their personal interests and urged founding members of the party to intervene before further damage is done.

He warned that continued inaction could render the PDP increasingly ineffective, stressing that Adeleke’s departure should serve as a wake-up call on the consequences of leaving internal disputes unresolved.