The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has defended Governor Ademola Adeleke’s decision to leave the party ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship election, describing it as a strategic move necessitated by the PDP’s prolonged internal instability.
Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, the PDP Vice Chairman for Lagos Central, Hakeem Olalemi, said Adeleke acted in his own political interest given the party’s unresolved leadership disputes and weakened national structure.
Olalemi stated that the PDP remains fragmented and unable to provide the institutional backing required for a sitting governor seeking re-election.
He noted 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 former leadership under Ambassador Umar Damagum and Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
According to him, this situation raises a critical concern over who would sign Adeleke’s nomination forms in 2026 had he remained in the party.
Olalemi argued that no governor would risk a re-election bid on a platform embroiled in legitimacy battles, stressing that Adeleke’s move was driven by political survival rather than disloyalty.
He added that persistent internal conflicts have made the PDP unattractive to serious political contenders.
The Lagos PDP chieftain further accused some influential governors of worsening the crisis for personal gain and urged the party’s founding members to intervene before more damage is done.
He warned that continued inaction could render the PDP ineffective, noting that Adeleke’s exit should serve as a wake-up call on the dangers of leaving internal disputes unresolved.
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