Ex-Lagos PDP NASS candidates to Jandor: Bode George, Akerele-Bucknor, others remain our leaders

Lagos State National Assembly candidates on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25, 2023 election, on Friday, told the former governorship candidate, Olajide Adediran (Jandor), that his claim to leadership of the chapter is false.
To them, PDP leaders in Lagos include Chief Bode George, Dr. Bimbo Ogunkelu, Mrs. Maina, Senator Kofo Akerele-Bucknor, party chairman, Philip Aivoji and others.
Addressing a press conference, they also
dissociated themselves from the court case instituted by some members against the party leadership.
They distanced themselves from what they described as accusations and counter-accusations over anti party activities and mismanagement of election funds.
The former candidates lamented that some party members instituted a lawsuit against the national and state leadership, and the Forum of Local Government Chairmen in Lagos State over the 2023 polls without justification.
Addressing reporters, former Lagos East senatorial candidate, Nicholas Akobada, decried the recourse to lawsuit at a time the national leadership had embarked on reconciliation and healing process.
He said: “We hereby disassociate and distance ourselves completely and outrightly 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”.
Akobada accused those behind the litigation of mischief and self-serving motives, adding that their actions are borne out of ego.
Chiding them for distracting the party, he said they are trouble makers causing more crises for the platform.
Akobada pointed out that the constitution of the party allows room for the resolution of grievances and conflicts through the party’s internal mechanism, wondering why the aggrieved members refused to make use of the procedure.
He said there is mutual respect between the party leadership and the former candidates, stressing that such an understanding can foster peace and reconciliation, and rekindle hope about a brighter future for the chapter.
Noting that there were challenges in the build up to the 2023 general elections, Akobada said the party should learn from the experience, make amends and work towards a better and fruitful outing in the future.
He added: “We, the PDP National Assembly Candidates Forum, Lagos State, are committed to peaceful coexistence, 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”.
Former House of Representatives candidate in Surulere Constituency, Bobby Jeje, and his Oshodi/Isolo counterpart, Olumuyiwa Owadara, rejected the claim by Jandor to leadership of the chapter.
Jeje, a former council chairman and ex-Southwest 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 candidate twice. That was when we had the highest number of votes. Last year, PDP had the lowest when Jandor contested.
“Our leaders are Chief Bode George, Dr. Bimbo Ogunkelu, Mrs. Maina, Senator Kofo Akerele-Bucknor, oarty chairman 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 leader if he wins”.