By: Manoah Kikekon
LAGOS — The internal turmoil within the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reached a tipping point, as prominent members now threaten to drag the party's leadership to court if the ongoing factional crisis is not resolved immediately.
The warning was spearheaded by Abayomi Medemaku, a legal professional and two-time candidate for both the House of Representatives and the Badagry Local Government chairmanship. Speaking on Friday, Medemaku expressed deep frustration over the emergence of parallel executive committees that have effectively split the party into two warring camps.
The crisis stems from two separate congresses held by rival groups, each claiming legitimacy over the party’s structure in Lagos:
The Makinde/Bode George Faction: This group reportedly conducted its election months before the expiration of the current tenure, leading to a period where they were referred to as "Excos-elect" of Lagos State for nearly seven months.
The Wike/Deji Doherty Faction: This faction recently conducted its own State Congress, inaugurating Muka Popoola as the Chairman of the faction. This move followed the dissolution of existing state executives by the national leadership loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
"In as much as I am not happy with the parallel Excos in Lagos State. I am consoled by the fact that both factions will serve as a check on each other," Medemaku noted, highlighting the high stakes of the "monopoly of manipulation" currently plaguing the party.
Medemaku, who describes himself as "100% PDP," "60% Wike," and "40% Makinde," warned that the patience of Lagos State party faithful has worn thin. He called for an immediate meeting of the two groups to harmonize their lists and form a single, formidable state executive.
The legal threat is born out of a desire to prevent "selfish personal interests and ego" from destroying the party’s chances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The members' demands include:
Immediate Harmonization: Merging the two executive lists to create a unified leadership in the state.
End to Parallel Governance: Dissolving the "factional" mindset that has paralyzed party operations in Lagos state.
Focus on 2027: Prioritizing party stability over individual loyalty to national leaders.
For stakeholders in the Badagry division and beyond, the split in Lagos PDP is seen as a major setback to providing a credible opposition to the ruling APC. Medemaku emphasized that regardless of who eventually emerges as the National President of the party, a divided state chapter remains a "losing house."
"If Lagos State PDP is harmonized, we will remain one," he stated. "We cannot fold our hands and watch our party be destroyed."