In a political move that has sent shockwaves through Lagos State politics, Dr. Olajide Adediran — popularly known as Jandor — has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party and rejoined the ruling All Progressives Congress. The announcement, made at a press conference at his campaign office in Ikeja, marks a dramatic turn in the political journey of one of Lagos State's most recognisable opposition figures.
The Announcement That Shocked Lagos
Jandor made his defection public during a press conference held on Monday at his campaign office in Ikeja, Lagos. The announcement came just two weeks after he had resigned from the PDP — a resignation that had already set the political rumour mill spinning about where he would land next.
His return to the APC was not entirely surprising to those who had been following his movements closely. In the weeks between his PDP resignation and his APC announcement, Jandor held a series of high-level consultations with some of Nigeria's most influential political figures.
The Meetings That Led to the Decision
According to a statement from his spokesperson Gbenga Ogunleye, Jandor held a key meeting with President Bola Tinubu the week before his official announcement. That meeting is widely seen as a significant factor in his decision to return to the APC — the party he had originally left to pursue his governorship ambitions under the PDP banner.
Beyond President Tinubu, Jandor's consultations were remarkably wide-ranging. He also met with former President Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and 2023 SDP presidential candidate Prince Adewole Adebayo. The breadth of those meetings suggested that Jandor was carefully weighing his options and seeking counsel from across Nigeria's political spectrum before making his final move.
PDP's Last Minute Appeal
Before Jandor made his defection official, the PDP made a visible effort to keep him within the party fold. The PDP National Secretary and other senior party leaders paid Jandor a personal visit to appeal for his reconsideration and urge him to reverse his resignation.
Their appeal, however, was ultimately unsuccessful. Jandor had clearly made up his mind, and no amount of persuasion from party leadership was going to change the direction he had chosen to take.
Who Is Jandor? A Quick Political Background
For those unfamiliar with his political journey, Jandor's story is one of the more fascinating in recent Lagos politics. He was originally a member of the APC before founding the Lagos4Lagos Movement — a grassroots political initiative that positioned itself as a credible alternative to what many saw as the APC's iron grip on Lagos State governance.
His profile and growing popularity eventually earned him the PDP's governorship ticket for the 2023 Lagos State election, where he emerged victorious in the primaries after defeating several other aspirants.
The Funke Akindele Partnership
To broaden his appeal — particularly among Lagos youth and urban voters — Jandor made a bold and widely discussed choice for his running mate. He selected popular Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele, whose massive fan base and cultural influence made the Jandor-Akindele ticket one of the most talked-about political partnerships of the 2023 election season.
Despite the excitement their ticket generated, the duo were unable to unseat the APC government. They finished behind incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Labour Party candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour. In March 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Sanwo-Olu the winner of the Lagos governorship election.
What This Defection Means for Lagos Politics
Jandor's return to the APC is more than just one politician changing parties. It is a signal about the shifting political landscape in Lagos State as the 2027 elections begin to take shape on the horizon.
His original departure from the APC had been framed as a principled stand against one-party dominance in Lagos. His return raises obvious questions about what has changed — and what, if anything, was agreed upon in those meetings with President Tinubu and other political heavyweights.
For the PDP in Lagos, the defection is a further blow to an opposition that has struggled to make meaningful inroads in a state that has been firmly under APC control for decades. For the APC, welcoming Jandor back represents an opportunity to consolidate and expand its already formidable base ahead of future elections.
What is clear is that Lagos politics just got a great deal more interesting — and Jandor will once again be at the centre of the conversation.
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