A former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, retired Capt. Tunji Shelle, has resigned from the party and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing persistent internal crises and indiscipline within the PDP.
Shelle, alongside several other PDP stalwarts and members of the Labour Party, formally defected to the ADC during an affirmation ceremony in Lagos on Saturday.
Prominent figures who moved with Shelle include former PDP Board of Trustees member, Dr Abimbola Ogunkelu; another former Lagos PDP Chairman, Chief Muritala Ashorobi; Lagos East PDP Vice Chairman, Tai Benedict; former State Youth Leader, Chief Niyi Adams; and former PDP South West Secretary, Rahman Owokoniran.
They were officially received into the ADC by the party’s National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, along with other national leaders.
Speaking after his defection, Shelle said the decision was borne out of frustration with the “gross indiscipline and endless crises” within the PDP.
He accused some national leaders of the party of undermining its stability, specifically alleging that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, was working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) while still holding influence within the PDP.
“Wike cannot hijack the party while the rest of us look on helplessly or we are no human beings. I cannot accept such ridicule. One man cannot serve the APC and at the same time hold PDP to ransom. Our leaders have been compromised,” he said.
Shelle declared that the exodus of PDP leaders into the ADC had weakened the opposition party in Lagos. “PDP is now empty with its leaders moving en masse to ADC,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the ADC, under the leadership of its Interim Chairman, Senator David Mark, and National Secretary, Aregbesola, had the capacity to challenge the ruling APC in 2027.
“There are no distractions in ADC. Its leaders are not for sale. The party has what it takes to rescue Nigeria and give the people the country of their dreams. Support for ADC is growing daily, and Nigerians should join the movement so we can win together,” he added.
Similarly, Owokoniran said the PDP had lost direction, declaring: “PDP is gone; there is nothing left. ADC is the only viable platform to challenge the ruling APC.”
Also speaking, Benedict noted that more PDP leaders were preparing to defect. “We are emptying PDP members in Lagos into ADC. Others will soon follow after taking their last supper,” he said.
On his part, Adams claimed that over 5,000 PDP members had already defected across the 20 local government areas of Lagos State. He said persistent internal crises had crippled the PDP and expressed doubt that the party could resolve its differences even after its November National Convention.
