Funso Doherty, a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, has announced his resignation from the party.

“I did not come to this decision lightly,” Mr Doherty said in a statement on Saturday, stating he resigned from the PDP some days ago.

The politician said he had worked with members to resolve both internal and external crises within the main opposition, to no avail, noting, “The events of recent weeks have, however, proven decisive.”

Mr Doherty cited the Appeal Court ruling that nullified the Kabiru Turaki-led 2025 national conventionin Ibadan, Oyo State, and recognised the faction led by FCT Minister Nysome Wike.

He recalled that he wrote a letter to the president of the Court of Appeal, calling for a decision to be delivered on multiple pending litigations involving the PDP.

Mr Doherty condemned Mr Wike for publicly endorsing President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and his 2027 reelection bid, despite being a PDP member.

“The ruling of the Court of Appeal came within days of my letter. It nullified our 2025 convention and its outcomes and, in effect, conferred primacy in the party’s leadership to a group, prominent among whom is the FCT minister, that has publicly and unambiguously declared its support for the re-election of the current APC administration,” said Mr Doherty.

The politician condemned the ruling, saying, “It means supporting an administration that is long on rhetoric, but that has presided over deepening poverty that has pushed tens of millions of Nigerians further into hardship through its governance approach, which is self-serving and extractive, rather than people-oriented and inclusive.”

He decried the rising levels of insecurity and the cost of living across Nigeria, noting, “I will not be a party to sustaining this tragic travesty.”

Although Mr Doherty did not state which party he would be joining, he stressed his commitment to “a united opposition.”

He stated, “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, in constitutional order, and in 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 PDP is therefore also partly driven by my belief in the pursuit of that united opposition.”

He called on everyone across party lines who shared his belief to walk the road with him in the struggle for a better state and country.