Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, claims the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is being controlled by powerful individuals working against the party.

Jandor, the 2023 Lagos State governorship candidate of the party, made the claim on Channels Television's Politics Today, stating that the party has lost hope in itself due to the ongoing political crisis.

The PDP has been left in tatters after key figures, led by former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, refused to support the party in the 2023 elections.

Jandor, who recently resigned from the party, said the leadership crisis at the party’s national headquarters was a major source of embarrassment.

He referenced the ongoing criticism of the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, who has been blamed by party members for the PDP’s internal struggles, particularly after replacing Iyorchia Ayu.

The party’s crisis has been exacerbated by a dispute over the National Secretary position, with both Senator Samuel Anyanwu and former National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, vying for the role.

Tensions have escalated in recent months, deepening divisions within the party’s key structures, including the Board of Trustees, the National Working Committee, and the National Executive Committee.

The situation is particularly concerning in the South-South, where the zonal congress held on February 22 without the governors’ consent has further complicated matters.

Jandor described the crisis at both the national and state levels as damaging to the PDP’s public image.

“Who goes around proudly identifying as a PDP member with all that is happening at both the national and state levels? The optics are bad,” he said.

“Even the party has given up on itself. A political party is made up of people who come together to form it — it doesn’t exist in isolation.

“If the same toxicity remains within that circle, the same problems will persist. Today, the party is controlled by those who worked against it. So where do we even begin? And we are heading into another election cycle.

“This is 2025. Congresses and other processes will begin soon. By 2026, there will be primary elections, yet the same individuals are still in charge of the party. And people expect a different outcome? No, it won’t happen.”

NBA