Former Lagos State PDP Chairman, Tunji Shelle, has announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party and formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Shelle, who was received on Saturday at an affirmation ceremony in Lagos alongside other PDP stalwarts and some Labour Party members, accused the PDP of “gross indiscipline and endless crises.”
Those who defected with him include former PDP Board of Trustees member Abimbola Ogunkelu, ex-state 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 welcomed into the ADC by the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and other leaders.
Explaining his decision, Shelle faulted PDP leaders for failing to curb what he described as the destabilising activities of certain figures, singling out the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, whom he accused of working for the APC while holding PDP membership.
“Wike cannot hijack the party, and the rest of us continue to look as if we are helpless or we are no human beings. I don’t take it. I don’t like being subjected to such ridicule. One man cannot say he is working for APC while on the other hand keeps holding PDP to ransom. I think the leaders are compromised,” Shelle said.
He declared that his defection, alongside other senior figures, had left the PDP in Lagos “empty,” while praising the ADC as a platform of “tested and trusted politicians” capable of challenging the APC in 2027.
“There are no distractions in ADC. The party leaders are not people anyone can buy over. ADC has all it takes to save the situation in Nigeria and give the people the country of their dream,” he added, expressing confidence in Interim Chairman David Mark and National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola.
Other defectors echoed his views. Owokoniran said the PDP “has lost track and is gone,” while Benedict hinted at a fresh wave of defections: “We are emptying PDP members in Lagos State into ADC. Others are on the way; they want to take their last supper before coming.”
Adams claimed more than 5,000 members had already defected across Lagos’ 20 local government areas and pledged to work tirelessly for ADC’s victory in the 2027 elections, dismissing PDP’s chances of resolving its crises even after its planned national convention in November.
