The Lagos chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka, and some executive members have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ms Adeyinka, leading about 15 other party executives to the PDP on Monday, said the decision was based on personalities with the tickets of the PDP in Lagos.

According to her, the defectors consulted widely before settling for the PDP.

She said they also considered some personalities in the party, like Funke Akindele, the PDP deputy governorship candidate.

“We are proud of this and find it convincing. We find a lot of attractions in PDP. The likes of Funke Akindele are role models for us. She likes us as youths. She is accessible and a young mind who has impacted the system in Nigeria by creating employment for Nigerian youths,” stated the ex-SDP chair in Lagos.

Ms Adeyinka described Ms Akindele as a “sellable youth” and a voice for women and youths. She also cited Wellington Bankole (Banky W), the PDP House of Representatives candidate for the Eti-Osa Federal constituency, as another reason for dumping SDP.

“Those are people we want to reckon with because for Nigerian youth to be able to speak and make an impact, we have to come together as one force. We need a force to change the status quo. We want a Lagos for all, not for a few,” added Ms Adeyinka. “We want a Lagos that works for everyone. We want to kill the system of godfatherism that puts our lives in danger. We need to find the right direction. We have a torchlight in PDP. Not because it is PDP but because we have people of like minds like Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran and others there.”

(NAN)