In a shocking political twist, former Lagos State governorship candidate Dr. Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and rejoined the All Progressives Congress (APC). His dramatic return, announced during a press conference in Ikeja on Monday, has sparked intense reactions and accusations of political opportunism.
Jandor, who fiercely contested against the APC in the 2023 elections, blamed internal crises and lack of discipline within the PDP for his defection. He accused party leaders of sabotaging their own members, lamenting that the party had failed to enforce loyalty during the elections.
“Our story in the PDP was a case of working with perennial political saboteurs,” Jandor stated, declaring that he had chosen to “love his future more than he hates his past.”
The former opposition leader claimed he consulted widely with political associates, supporters, and leaders from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Young Progressive Party (YPP) before ultimately deciding to return to the APC.
Perhaps the most controversial part of his speech was his justification for rejoining the very party he once abandoned. Comparing his political journey to a Yoruba adage about women learning from different husbands, Jandor suggested that he had realized the APC was a better political home.
“In APC, we have a leader who, even if you fault his selection choices, is always committed to winning. In Lagos PDP, you have a leader who works against his own party and dashes the hopes of many members,” he claimed, in what appeared to be a direct attack on PDP’s Lagos leadership.
Jandor also acknowledged the roles of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, in persuading him to return to the ruling party.
His defection has triggered a wave of criticism, with many questioning whether his move was driven by principle or sheer political survival. PDP loyalists have accused him of betraying the opposition for personal gain, while APC supporters have celebrated his return as proof of the ruling party’s dominance.
As the dust settles on this high-profile defection, one question remains: Is Jandor’s return to the APC a strategic masterstroke, or just another case of political convenience?
