The Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has dismissed claims that its structure has collapsed following Monday’s defection of its former Publicity Secretary, Hakeem Amode, and others to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

A statement signed on Tuesday by the party’s State Secretary, Soji Orioye, claimed that despite the defection of certain individuals, PDP in Lagos remains strong and intact.

Amode and several others were welcomed into APC by the party’s 2023 governorship candidate, Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, fuelling speculation of a mass defection and a potential collapse of the PDP structure.

While announcing his defection, Amode said, “We have decided to collapse the entire PDP structure in Lagos State, from ward to the state level.”

However, the PDP leadership in Lagos described such claims as laughable, asserting that Amode had long distanced himself from the party’s activities.

Orioye stated, “The attention of the State Executive Committee has been drawn to social media videos and reports of the defection of Alhaji Hakeem Amode and others to the APC, where they were received by Jide Adediran (Jandor).

“As much as politics is about interest, and those involved have followed their interest to the APC, we wish them well in their sojourn.

“However, the claim by Amode that they have collapsed the PDP structure in the state is laughable and can only be described as a comic remark.”

He added that Amode, who had abandoned his official role as PDP Publicity Secretary for campaign duties, had not attended party meetings in a considerable period and was in no position to speak on the state of the party’s structure.

“We wonder how someone who abandoned his office as state publicity secretary and became campaign publicity secretary and hasn’t attended a meeting in a very long while understands the party restructuring, not to talk about collapsing the structure you are no more part of.

“The PDP structure in Lagos remains solid and is progressing, especially after healing from internal wounds inflicted by Jandor and his allies,” Orioye said.

He accused the defectors of betraying the PDP during the last general elections, alleging that their recent return to the APC was simply a move back to their “paymasters.”

Despite the defection, Orioye affirmed that PDP is preparing to contest the 12 July 2025 local government elections across Lagos with “formidable candidates at the ward and council levels.”

“One may ask, can a party whose structure has supposedly collapsed be fielding candidates across all levels for an election? The answer is clear,” he said.

Orioye urged members and supporters of PDP to remain focused, assuring them that the current leadership is committed to rebuilding the party into a strong and victorious force in Lagos.

While extending well wishes to the defectors, he cautioned them to exercise restraint in their public statements regarding PDP.