By Chinelo Obogo

Lagos State National Assembly candidates on the platform  of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25, 2023 elections, have dissociated themselves from the former governorship candidate, Olajide Adediran (Jandor), over his claim that he is the party’s leader in the state.

Addressing a press conference, at the weekend in Lagos, the former candidates also dissociated themselves from the court case instituted by some members against the party leadership. A former Lagos East senatorial candidate, Nicholas Akobada, condemned the  lawsuit, saying it came at a time when the national leadership is in a reconciliation and healing process.

He accused those behind the litigation of mischief and self-serving motives, saying their actions were borne out of ego and that they are trouble makers causing more crises for the party. He said the constitution of the party gives room for the resolution of conflict through the party’s internal mechanism, and asked why the aggrieved members did not make use of the procedure.

“We hereby disassociate ourselves from the frivolous lawsuits instituted against the leadership and organs of our party, both at the national and Lagos State. We see it as being mischievous and embarrassing in all its entirety.

“We say unequivocally that we are not part of the plaintiffs, we know nothing about the lawsuits and we will never be part of such act that will bring disrepute to respectable leaders and organs of our party,” he said.

Noting that there were challenges in the build up to the 2023 general election, Akobada said the party should learn from the experience, make amends and work towards a better and fruitful outing in the future.

“We, the PDP National Assembly Candidates’ Forum, Lagos State, are committed to peaceful co-existence, mutual respect and compliance with the dictates of our party’s constitution as only such can guarantee enabling and conducive atmosphere for our party to thrive and be successful.

We, therefore, urge all party faithful to do away with any divisive attempts within the party in Lagos State. Let us wake up and avoid being used and dumped as usual,” he said.

Former House of Representatives candidate in Surulere constituency, Bobby Jeje, and his Oshodi/Isolo counterpart, Olumuyiwa Owadara, also rejected the claim by Jandor to leadership of the chapter.

Jeje, a former council chairman and former South West youth leader, said: “It is unfortunate where we have found ourselves as a party, that Jandor came out to declare himself as leader of the party. Jandor is arrogating the leadership of the party to himself.

“Jimi Agbaje was a candidate twice and that was when we had the highest number of votes. Last year, PDP had the lowest when Jandor contested.

“Our leaders are Bode George, Bimbo Ogunkelu, Aduke Maina, Kofo Akerele-Bucknor, and party Chairman, Philip Aivoji. Jandor can only be one of the leaders. He is not the leader. He lost in Ojo constituency, where PDP used to win. Jandor is full of shenanigans. He can only become a leader if he wins.”