Resignation from the People's Democratic Party (PDP)

A few days ago, I resigned my membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

I did not come to this decision lightly. For the past two years, we have worked within the party, to help resolve multiple crises of internal and external origin and to move the party forward based on the conviction that a strong, united and established opposition platform is not a luxury in our democracy – it is a necessity.

The events of recent weeks, have however proven decisive.

As many will recall, I wrote a public letter to the President of the Court of Appeal, urging that a decision be delivered on the multiple litigations involving PDP, pending before the Court, ahead of imminent key milestones in the electoral calendar. I did so because I understood what was at stake, not just for our party, but for the integrity and legitimacy of the electoral process itself.

The ruling of the Court of Appeal came within days of my letter. It nullified our 2025 convention and its outcomes and, in effect, conferred primacy in the party’s leadership to a group, prominent among whom is the FCT Minister, that has publicly and unambiguously declared its support for the re-election of the current APC administration.

Let’s be very clear about what that means in practice. It means supporting an administration that is long on rhetoric, but that has presided over deepening poverty that has pushed tens of millions of Nigerians further into hardship through its Governance approach which is self-serving and extractive, rather than people-oriented and inclusive. Insecurity has escalated sharply. The cost of living has become an unbearable burden for ordinary families in Lagos, and in every corner of this country even as their standards of living drop precipitously.

I will not be a party to sustaining this tragic travesty. The people of Lagos State – many of whom have waited far too long for meaningful improvement in their day-to-day lives from the actions of their Government – deserve much better than that.

For a long time, I have advocated the importance of a united opposition. Nigeria’s democracy is fragile, and now under increasing threat, so this is not the time for fracturing and division of opposition political forces that believe in accountability, in constitutional order, and in the welfare of ordinary citizens.

The need for opposition unity, especially in Lagos State, has never been more urgent than it is today and I remain committed to working to make it happen. My departure from PDP is therefore also, partly driven by my belief in the pursuit of that united opposition.

To all those across party lines who are walking this road with me, who share a belief in the possibility of something better, I say thank you. The struggle for a better Lagos, a better Nigeria, must continue unabated and with renewed vigor.

To the great people of Lagos State: please stay tuned. I remain deeply committed to you, to our beloved city, and to the shining future we will build together.

More to come on this very soon.

Sincerely,

Funso Doherty.