By Kolawole Ojebisi
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos in the 2023 general elections, Abdulazeez Adediran, has resigned his membership of the party.
Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, announced his resignation during a press briefing at Liberty Place, Ikeja, on Monday.
Speaking on the reason for his decision, Jandor cited indiscipline and anti-party activities within the PDP.
“I am here before you today without a heavy heart and a clear conscience. We have dedicated ourselves to the ideals of democracy — both good governance and the pursuit of a better Lagos,” he said.
“However, it has become evident that the leadership of the PDP, both at the national and state levels, has failed to uphold its principles.
“We will consult widely with everybody and then take the decision to collapse our structure to another platform. The major thing now is that we have left the PDP.” he added.
Jandor polled third with 62,449 votes behind Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who got 762,134 votes, and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP) who garnered 312,329 votes.
Prior to the 2023 elections, Jandor said he was not a mole for the All Progressives Congress (APC) while responding to rumours that he had been planted in the PDP by the ruling party and that he was an ally of President Bola Tinubu.
Adediran said it would be illogical for him to be APC’s mole and “be giving them headaches”, adding that although he was a member of the APC until January 2022, he never had a one-on-one meeting with Tinubu.
He added that he is “strongly determined” to end APC’s reign in the state.
“It might be difficult for anybody to believe that I have never had a one-on-one meeting with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,” he said.
“I have not set my feet on his Bourdillon house. Yes, I was coming from APC, but I have never been elected nor appointed. I have only been a consultant on that corridor.” Jandor claimed in the buildup to the 2023 governorship election.