The PDP vice chairman (Lagos Central), Mr Hakeem Olalemi, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Tuesday.

Some PDP leaders, including the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Hakeem Amode, announced their resignation from the party on Monday.

Other prominent PDP leaders who dumped the party for APC were Alhaja Safurat Abdulkareem, a two-time PDP deputy governorship candidate in the state, and a former Lagos PDP deputy chairman, Chief Ola Apena.

Olalemi said the party would not miss the defectors as they were not active members of the party.

The PDP chieftain said the defectors had not been active in PDP in the last two years.

“All the people that left had been inactive in the party in the past two years; we are not going to miss them at all.

“The party has since moved on. We are moving on without them. These people showed long ago they were not PDP members again, they are Jandor’s people and we have always known that they are APC.

“In Lagos PDP, we have long forgotten them. They had not  been part of us for over two years. When last did you hear them defend PDP in Lagos State before their defection?

“It (their defection) is not news to us in Lagos PDP, we know they left since. We are not bothered a bit,” Olalemi said.

READ ALSO: Lagos PDP spokesman, others dump party, join Jandor in APC

PDP leaders who dumped the party on Monday for APC also include Prince Rufus Adeniyi, a former PDP Assistant State Organising Secretary (Lagos West) and Mr Jerry Afemikhe (Olori Odo), a former PDP House of Representatives candidate in Surulere Constituency I.

Some 2023 PDP Lagos State House of Assembly candidates who dumped the party included Messrs Keshinro Abiodun (Epe 1); Akeem Jinadu, (Eti-Osa 1) and Ibrahim Balogun (Kosofe 2).

Messrs Taofeek Obanikoro (Lagos Island 1); Tunde Pratt (Lagos Mainland 2); Saheed Aregbesola (Oshodi-Isolo State 2), Sulaimon Thompson (Surulere 1) and Taofeek Kuye ( Ajeromi-Ifelodun State 1) also dumped PDP for APC.

Mr Adeyemi Kazeem, former PDP Chairman, Ojo Local Government; Pastor Gbenga Ogunleye, media aide to the 2023 Lagos PDP governorship candidate were also among those who defected.

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The State PDP vice chairman (Central), Mr Hakeem Olalemi,  disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos.

He said that the primaries would hold at the various council areas and that candidates would emerge by consensus.

Olalemi said: “Our great party, PDP, will be holding its primaries for the forthcoming local government election in Lagos State at the various local government secretariats of our party on Saturday, May 17.

“Chairmanship and councillorship candidates will emerge through consensus,” the PDP chieftain said.

According to him, the PDP is participating in the council polls to win.

“We are very sure that our chances are very bright in the next local government election. We are sure of our chances and hope the election will be credible.

“We know that the ruling party dictates to the state electoral commission, but we will be on the field with the APC and square it up with them.

“By the grace of God, we shall win. We are ready for the election physically, morally and otherwise,” he added.

In a separate interview with, the Lagos State PDP chairman, Mr Phillips Aivoji, also expressed  optimism that the party would do well in the election.

“We are participating to win. We will continue to mobilise for support of the people, to vote for PDP.

“I believe that PDP chances are bright in some areas, while we will slug it out in some other council,” Aivoji said.

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He said that residents of the state would witness liberation and would enjoy  people-oriented leadership and programmes if they vote PDP to govern at  the various councils.

The chairman added: “Lagos residents stand to gain a lot with PDP. They stand to gain good governance.

“They stand to gain purposeful and meaningful administration. The people will be number one in everything we do if PDP is voted.”

Source: NAN

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