Former Lagos State governorship candidate, Funso Doherty, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), blaming the party’s lingering internal crisis for his decision.
Doherty, who joined the PDP in 2024, announced his exit in a letter shared on his X handle on Saturday.
He explained that recent developments within the party, including a court ruling that nullified its 2025 convention, worsened divisions among members.
Prior to the judgment, he said he had written to the President of the Court of Appeal, urging a swift resolution of the party’s legal disputes due to their potential impact on Nigeria’s electoral process.
According to him, the ruling—which invalidated the convention and shifted control of the party leadership to a faction—was a turning point.
Doherty criticised the outcome, arguing that it indirectly benefits interests aligned with the re-election of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of overseeing worsening poverty, insecurity, and rising living costs.
“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,” he stated.
He also reiterated his long-standing call for a united opposition, warning that Nigeria’s democracy remains fragile.
“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, constitutional order, and 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 the PDP is therefore also partly driven by my belief in the pursuit of that united opposition,” he added.