Jandor meets Tinubu amid political uncertainty, fuels 2027 election speculations

Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Monday in what sources describe as a significant political move.

The meeting, which was not publicly disclosed, reportedly took place between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm, sparking speculations about Jandor’s next political move following his recent resignation from the PDP.

Jandor, who was formerly a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before defecting to the PDP to contest the Lagos State governorship election, cited “indiscipline and anti-party activities” as the reasons for his departure from the PDP.

However, he has yet to announce his next political affiliation.

The 47-year-old politician expressed deep disappointment in the PDP leadership, accusing them of betrayal on the eve of the election. He claimed that a false claim of an alliance with another party misled PDP supporters, resulting in votes being redirected from his candidacy.

In the 2023 Lagos State governorship election, Jide Sanwo-Olu, the incumbent and APC candidate, secured a resounding victory with 762,134 votes, while Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party came second with 312,329 votes.

READ ALSO: PDP National Secretary Okoye, others urges Jandor to rescind resignation stance

Jandor, representing the PDP, managed only 62,449 votes, a far cry from the numbers needed to pose a serious challenge.

In his resignation letter from the PDP, Jandor wrote: “I am here before you today without a heavy heart and with 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.”

Jandor also hinted at future political realignments, stating, “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.”

Although the details of Jandor’s meeting with Tinubu remain undisclosed, sources within Aso Rock suggest it was a fence-mending effort that could signal the beginning of political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The meeting has intensified speculations that Jandor may return to the APC or align with another influential political platform.

Adding to the intrigue, Jandor recently visited former heads of state, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Minna, Niger State.

He has also held discussions with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and senior officials of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), suggesting that multiple options are on the table as he plans his next political step.

With Jandor’s political future still uncertain, his moves will be closely watched as he navigates Nigeria’s complex political landscape ahead of the next electoral cycle.