By peterside Rejoice Eneky
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, has described recent defections from the party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as acts of political desperation, labeling those involved as “political scavengers.”
Pearse, a former member of the Atiku Abubakar 2023 Presidential Campaign Committee and convener of the Reset Lagos PDP group, made this known during a press conference in Ikeja on Monday. He was reacting to the recent defection of Alhaji Hakeem Amode, the PDP’s State Publicity Secretary, and several others to the APC.
According to Pearse, the defections are not a source of worry for the PDP, as those who left had long shown signs of disloyalty. He said the party remains stable and is now in a better position to reorganize ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“These people were never fully aligned with the PDP since Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor) joined the party,” Pearse stated. “They have only now made their positions public.”
Pearse alleged that most of the defectors were long-time supporters of Jandor, who recently exited the PDP. He said the defectors lacked influence and that their departure would not weaken the party’s structure in Lagos State.
“What power does Jandor and his supporters have when they were only able to muster five percent in an election?” Pearse asked. “Anyone who believes that the entire Lagos PDP has collapsed because they defected can believe any joke.”
He further described the exit of the defectors as a necessary purge that would allow the PDP to rebuild on a stronger foundation.
“At best, we can agree that five percent of the unreliable elements in PDP have left the party,” he said. “Let me add, it is better that these saboteurs reveal themselves now, before the 2027 elections. They are no longer a problem for PDP.”
Pearse stressed that the PDP is not deterred by the defections, adding that such developments provide an opportunity to reform the party’s internal structure and strengthen unity among committed members.
“By leaving the PDP, these political scavengers are inadvertently helping PDP to clean its house in preparation for 2027,” he added.
Pearse’s remarks come at a time when several PDP members in Lagos have been decamping to the APC, triggering speculation about the internal health of the party. However, PDP leaders like Pearse continue to insist that the party remains intact and focused on its goal of reclaiming power in the next electoral cycle.
The development has further intensified political discourse in the state, as both PDP and APC gear up for early preparations ahead of the 2027 elections.
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