The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has defended Gov. Ademola Adeleke’s decision to dump the party ahead of 2026 Osun governorship election.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, Mr Hakeem Olalemi, PDP Vice Chairman, Lagos Central, said Adeleke acted wisely considering the party’s instability over unending leadership crises.
He said PDP was deeply divided and lacked a functional national structure to support a sitting governor seeking re-election.
According to him, despite the emergence of new PDP national executives at the National Convention in Ibadan in November ,INEC still recognises previous executives with Amb. Umar Damagum and Sen. Samuel Anyanwu as PDP’s national officers.
He said the situation had created confusion as regards who would sign Adeleke’s 2026 nomination forms if he remained in the PDP.
Olalemi said no governor would risk his mandate on a platform battling legitimacy issues.
He stressed that Adeleke’s move was driven by self-preservation, not disloyalty.
According to him, internal conflicts have made the PDP unsafe for any serious candidate.
Olalemi accused some influential governors of worsening the crisis for personal reasons.
The PDP chieftain urged the party’s founding fathers to intervene urgently and restore peace.
He warned that failure to resolve the crisis before December 7 could render the party ineffective.
Olalemi added that Adeleke’s step should remind leaders that unresolved conflicts threaten the survival of the PDP.
NAN reports that Adeleke on Monday announced his resignation from PDP, citing instability in the party.
He said he had already notified the party of his decision through a letter sent his ward at Ward 2 ,Sagba Abogunde, Ede, on Nov. 4.
Adeleke has , however,yet to disclose his next political camp.(NAN)
