- Former Lagos State governorship candidate Funso Doherty has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing deep-seated internal divisions and litigations.
- Doherty’s exit follows a controversial court ruling that nullified the PDP’s 2025 convention and allegedly handed control to a faction aligned with the ruling APC.
- Despite leaving, Doherty maintains his commitment to a “united opposition,” arguing that a fractured political front only serves to sustain current economic hardships.
Funso Doherty, the former governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who joined the PDP in 2024, has tendered his resignation.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Doherty announced his departure in a scathing letter shared on Saturday, March 28, 2026, pinning his decision on the “prolonged crisis” and recent judicial developments that have paralyzed the main opposition party.
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The tipping point for Doherty appears to be the recent judgment that invalidated the PDP’s 2025 National Convention.
According to Doherty, the resulting leadership structure effectively handed the reins of the party to a faction he believes is working in tandem with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He stated that staying in the party would amount to “sustaining a tragic travesty,” specifically criticizing an administration that he claims has worsened poverty and the cost of living for Lagosians and Nigerians at large.
“Nigeria’s democracy is fragile and now under increasing threat,” Doherty wrote, emphasizing that this is not the time for the fracturing of opposition forces.
He highlighted that the need for a united front, particularly in Lagos State, has never been more urgent.
Doherty, known for his focus on accountability and public sector reform, expressed frustration that multiple litigations had been allowed to derail the party’s internal democratic processes, leading to what he views as a hijacked leadership.
Doherty’s exit is part of a broader trend of instability within the PDP, which has seen several high-profile members defect to other parties or declare themselves independent of the current party structure.
While he has not yet announced a move to a new political platform, his emphasis on “opposition unity” suggests he may be eyeing a coalition or a return to a third-force movement as the 2027 elections begin to loom on the horizon.
For now, the PDP in Lagos faces the difficult task of stemming the tide of departures and resolving its legal entanglements.
