Jandor returns to APC — one week after meeting TinubuJandor returns to APC — one week after meeting Tinubu
…He came to spy, ruin Lagos PDP – Chieftain
Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has returned to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
At a press briefing in Lagos on Monday, Jandor said his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a “reflection of his unwavering commitment to the development of Lagos”.
Jandor was the governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos in the 2023 general election.
He held a secret meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa last Tuesday.
Jandor was a member of the APC before defecting to the PDP to run for governorship.
The 47-year-old politician accused PDP national leadership of letting him down on the eve of the election, maintaining that he would have won but for a false claim of alliance that made PDP supporters in Lagos vote for another candidate.
At the press briefing, Jandor said he left the PDP because of the inability of the national leadership of the party to instill discipline, and condemned the “anti-party activities” from some party leaders in 2023.
He said since resigning his membership of the PDP, he has held talks with various parties, including the Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Young Progressive Party (YPP), before settling for the APC.
“In the process of consultation, we had crucial discussions with some leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), All Progressive Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Young Progressive Party (YPP) among others,” he said.
“We equally had a truth-sharing engagement with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the national level on the likelihood of rescinding a resignation from the party if the identified wrongs could be corrected.”
Jandor said his return to the APC is driven by the belief that it is a more effective vehicle for delivering good governance to Lagosians, even if his name is not on the ballot.
“While we remain proud of the campaign we ran and the support we garnered, we believe that working within the fold of the APC offers a more viable platform to deliver on our promises of good governance for all Lagosians, even if I am not the one on the ballot,” he said.
“Our return to the APC is not a decision made lightly. It is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to the progress of Lagos state and our belief that unity among progressives is essential to achieving the collective aspirations of our people.”
Jandor appreciated Tinubu for recognising contributions to democracy and nation-building.
He also expressed gratitude to Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president, for encouraging him to return to APC.
Jandor further appreciated Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, who reached out to him immediately he learnt of his resignation from PDP.
“Let me once again extend our sincere gratitude to the President and the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who recognized our modest contributions to democracy and nation building,” he added.
“I must also recognize the relentless efforts of the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, who has been on our case for over one year to return ‘home’, and join hands with Mr. President.
“Upon hearing the news of my resignation from the PDP, the President’s son, Mr. Seyi Tinubu immediately put a call across to say ‘Egbon, this is the time to come back home’.
“Prior to that time, Seyi had exhibited the learnings he has had from the best and reached out, asking for support for the administration of his father, the President. What more can a father ask for?”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says it will not miss the party’s 2023 governorship candidate,Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, better known as Jandor, who defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The State PDP Vice Chairman (Central) Hakeem Olalemi, made this statement while reacting to Adediran’s return to APC on Monday.
Olalemi, who noted that the exit of Adediran from PDP was not a shock, said that the former gubernatorial candidate came to spy and ruin the party in the state.
“He (Adediran) is a human being and the Nigerian Constitution allows freedom of associations. He is free to resign from any group or party and join any group he wants.
“We will miss his shenanigans, comedy and cunningness. So, we will not miss anything good about him in the party because he has done a huge havoc to our party in Lagos State.
“He has come to our party to spy and he ruined the party.
“We are assuring the public that we are going to pick up the party from where it is now and take it to its Eldorado come 2027 by the special grace of God,” Olalemi said.
It would be recalled that Adediran, a leader of Lagos4Lagos Movement and former APC governorship aspirant, also defected from APC to PDP in 2021.
In 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the Lagos governorship election, defeating all contestants, including Adediran.
Sanwo-Olu polled 762,134 votes to defeat his close challenger, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party, LP, who scored 312,329 votes.
Adediran, the PDP’s flagbearer, came a distant third with 62,449 votes.
