Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor and the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, held a private meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.
According to TheCable, the unannounced meeting took place between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and has sparked speculations about Jandor’s next political move following his recent resignation from the PDP.
Jandor, a former member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defected to the PDP ahead of the 2023 Lagos governorship election. However, his campaign was affected by internal divisions and what he described as a betrayal by the PDP’s national leadership on the eve of the election.
He finished third in the election, securing 62,449 votes, behind Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC (762,134 votes) and Labour Party’s Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (312,329 votes).
Citing “indiscipline and anti-party activities”, Jandor resigned from the PDP but has yet to disclose his next political affiliation. In his resignation letter, he criticized the PDP’s leadership, stating that the party had failed to uphold its principles and hinting at a move to another political platform.
“I am here before you today without a heavy heart and a clear conscience. We have dedicated ourselves to the ideals of democracy—both good governance and the pursuit of a better Lagos.
“However, it has become evident that the leadership of the PDP, both at the national and state levels, has failed to uphold its principles.”
“We will consult widely with everybody and then take the decision to collapse our structure to another platform. The major thing now is that we have left the PDP.”
While the details of Jandor’s meeting with Tinubu remain unclear, sources within Aso Rock suggest that it was a “fence-mending” discussion that could pave the way for his return to the APC or a strategic alliance ahead of the 2027 elections.
Jandor’s spokesman, Gbenga Ogunleye, confirmed the meeting, stating that Ogunleye explained that Jandor’s engagement with Tinubu was part of his broader consultations with political leaders following his resignation from the PDP., while emphasizing that no final decision has been made regarding his next political party.
He said, “Yes, Jandor met with Tinubu. It was a private meeting. We will announce his next move at the appropriate time. Nothing is decided yet. He will be in Lagos this weekend to meet with his group and other leaders.”
Prior to meeting Tinubu, Jandor had also visited former Heads of State Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar in Minna, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and senior officials of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), fueling speculation about his next political steps.