People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the March 9 governorship poll in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has dumped the party, citing unresolved disagreements between him and the PDP leadership in the state.
He said his departure from the party was necessary after a series of allegations that arose after our party lost the governorship poll in Lagos.
”I have tried to remain focused and ignore all the distractions coming from the leadership of the party. I am making the decision after due consultations with my supporters and loved ones for the sake of peace,” he was quoted as saying.
Mr Agbaje, however, did not give details on his next move and whether he will join another party.
Reacting to the news, PDP chieftain, Femi Fani-Kayode, regretted that all his friends were jumping out of the PDP ship.
He tweeted: “First it was Musiliu Obanikoro, then Iyiola Omisore, then Gbenga Daniel and now Jimi Agbaje. All my closest friends and brothers are abandoning ship and leaving @OfficialPDPNig
The disagreements Agbaje alluded to may not be unconnected to a statement recently credited to formBer PDP Chairman in the state, Chief Tunji Shelle. He had accused Agbaje of being responsible for the party’s poor performance in the governorship election.
Shelle said: “We had a situation where somebody said he could work and achieve victory alone. Meanwhile, he doesn’t know anything.
“Rather than show cooperation, he was arguing and fighting people who could help him. Even when things were going bad and help was to be rendered, he said he doesn’t need help.
“Well-meaning people intervened to rally everybody together in Lagos. They called us to a meeting and asked us to help him but he refused, saying he doesn’t need help. He became a lone ranger and stand-alone person.
“Even when we were trying to reinforce his campaign team, he told us point blank that he couldn’t work with people he can’t control. He wants to be a master of all and subject everybody in the party under his control which is not possible. You can’t control everybody because PDP is not your private party.
“So, we decided to leave him to go and do the job alone and at the end of the day, that is the result we got in Lagos. That is the major reason why PDP failed in Lagos.
“If not for the sympathy votes we got from people who are tired of APC and felt there is a need for leadership change in Lagos state, we could have gotten lesser votes in the governorship election. To be frank, our governorship candidate was our problem in Lagos State.
“He defeated the party and defeated himself. The most unfortunate thing is that he doesn’t feel the pain of what he has caused. Also, there was mismanagement of resources too because everybody left him to his fate to do whatever pleased him ”.
