A significant political shift has occurred in Lagos State, as retired Capt. Tunji Shelle, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with other prominent party stalwarts, has officially resigned from the PDP to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC). This mass defection was driven by deep-seated frustrations with what they described as “gross indiscipline and endless crises” within their former party.

The group of defectors included Dr. Abimbola Ogunkelu, a former PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) member; Chief Muritala Ashorobi, an ex-State PDP Chairman; Tai Benedict, PDP Vice Chairman (Lagos East) and (Lagos Central in the second text); Chief Niyi Adams, former Youth Leader; and Rahman Owokoniran, ex-South West Secretary. They were formally welcomed into the ADC at an affirmation ceremony in Lagos by the party’s National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, alongside other ADC leaders.

Speaking on the defection, Capt. Shelle specifically criticized PDP leaders like Mr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, accusing them of undermining the party’s progress. Shelle declared his refusal to be subjected to such “ridicule,” alleging that Wike was covertly working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) despite his purported PDP membership. He also expressed a firm belief in ADC’s leadership, asserting its capability to mount a strong challenge against the APC in the 2027 general elections, free from internal distractions and leaders susceptible to being ‘bought over’.

Other defectors echoed Shelle’s sentiments. Rahman Owokoniran stated that “PDP is gone, there is nothing there,” positing that ADC represented the sole viable opportunity to challenge the ruling APC. Tai Benedict hinted at a larger exodus, suggesting that many more PDP leaders were preparing to join ADC. Chief Niyi Adams, former Lagos State PDP Youth Leader, claimed that over 5,000 PDP members had already defected to ADC across all 20 local governments in Lagos, pledging their tireless efforts for ADC’s success in the upcoming elections. Shelle concluded that the PDP’s persistent internal crises were unlikely to be resolved, even with its impending November National Convention, reinforcing their decision to move to a “strong, focused, and capable” party.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, also a former governor of Osun State, utilized the affirmation ceremony to assure the public that the new coalition within ADC is prepared to rescue Nigeria by providing good governance at all levels if elected in 2027. He welcomed not only PDP members but also like-minded stakeholders from the Labour Party (LP) and other political backgrounds. In a speech titled “When Good People Unite, Nigerians Win,” Aregbesola described ADC as a party for the youth, poised to change the national narrative.

Aregbesola detailed ADC’s progressive commitments, promising to allocate 50 percent of both elective and appointive positions to youth and women, alongside a strong focus on the welfare of all Nigerians. He unequivocally declared ADC as the party of the youth, emphasizing that it is “not owned or financed by one individual, but a collective of patriotic citizens coming together as equals to salvage a nation fast sliding into a precipice.” The ADC constitution, he noted, boldly affirms the place of youth and women in leadership, with a 35 percent representation each, ensuring a combined representation of no less than 50 percent, thereby making ADC unquestionably youth-centric.

Highlighting the urgency of their mission, Aregbesola lamented the prevailing hardship and uncertainty in the country under the current leadership. He stressed the imperative to transcend partisanship and forge a new direction, asserting that Nigeria’s future is inextricably linked to empowering its youth and women. The ADC chieftain and immediate past Minister of Interior underscored that the welfare and well-being of the people must be the cornerstone of governance, warning that any government failing in this regard would inevitably lose relevance.

Aregbesola outlined the immediate task: to rescue Nigeria from its destructive trajectory and build a new nation that future generations would be proud to inherit. He advised party members to diligently build the party from the grassroots and effectively convey their ideas to the populace, avoiding the distraction of “non-productive engagement in debates and strife with the agents of the dying dinosaurs.” He further declared that both the PDP and APC had lost their vision and dreams, becoming mere political parties, and urged ADC members to avoid their predecessors’ pitfalls and embark on a fresh start.

Dr. Abimbola Ogunkelu, who led many PDP stalwarts into the ADC, articulated the