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Ex-Lagos PDP Chairman, Tunji Shelle, defects to ADC
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He accused PDP of indiscipline and blamed Nyesom Wike for destabilising the party.
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ADC leaders welcomed the defectors, vowing to challenge APC in 2027 elections.
A former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Captain Tunji Shelle (rtd), has formally resigned from the PDP and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Shelle announced his defection on Saturday during an affirmation ceremony in Lagos, where he was received alongside other prominent PDP stalwarts and some members of the Labour Party. He accused the PDP of being overwhelmed by what he described as “gross indiscipline and endless crises.”
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that among those who defected with him were a former PDP Board of Trustees member, Abimbola Ogunkelu; another former Lagos PDP Chairman, Muritala Ashorobi; PDP Vice Chairman (Lagos East), Tai Benedict; former Youth Leader, Niyi Adams; and ex-South West Secretary, Rahman Owokoniran.
They were officially welcomed into the ADC by the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and other leaders.
Speaking on his reasons for leaving the PDP, Shelle alleged that party leaders had failed to curb the destabilising influence of some national figures.
He particularly accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of undermining the party while allegedly working with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Wike cannot hijack the party while the rest of us look helpless. One man cannot say he is working for APC while still holding PDP to ransom. I believe the leaders are compromised,” Shelle stated.
He added that his defection, along with those of other key leaders, had further weakened the PDP in Lagos.
“PDP is now empty with all its leaders moving to ADC in Lagos,” he declared.
Shelle described the ADC as a platform of “tested and trusted politicians” capable of challenging the APC in 2027. He also expressed confidence in the leadership of David Mark, the Interim Chairman, and Rauf Aregbesola, saying they had the capacity to steer the party to victory.
Other defectors also voiced their frustrations with the PDP. Former South West Secretary Rahman Owokoniran said: “PDP has lost track. PDP is gone, there is nothing there. ADC is the only opportunity to challenge the ruling APC.”
PDP Vice Chairman (Lagos East), Tai Benedict, claimed more defections were imminent, while former PDP Youth Leader, Niyi Adams, said over 5,000 members had already joined ADC across the 20 local government areas of Lagos State.
Adams maintained that the defectors were committed to working tirelessly for ADC’s victory in the 2027 general elections, dismissing the possibility of the PDP resolving its internal crisis even after its planned national convention in November.
