Former Lagos State governorship hopeful, Funso Doherty, has announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, blaming deepening internal rifts and leadership disputes within the party.

Doherty, who previously contested the Lagos governorship under the African Democratic Congress before moving to the PDP in 2024, made his decision public in a letter shared via his X account on Saturday.

He explained that recent developments in the party, especially a court judgment that voided its 2025 national convention, convinced him that the PDP was facing a serious leadership breakdown. According to him, the ruling worsened existing divisions and created uncertainty about the party’s direction ahead of future elections.

The former candidate noted that he had earlier appealed to the President of the Court of Appeal to expedite decisions on legal disputes affecting the PDP because of their potential impact on Nigeria’s electoral process.

Doherty said the outcome of the litigation, which he believes strengthened a faction sympathetic to the ruling All Progressives Congress, marked a turning point for him.

He criticised what he described as growing hardship across the country, citing rising living costs, insecurity, and poverty, and said he could not remain in a political environment he felt was indirectly enabling such conditions.

He also stressed the need for opposition parties, particularly in Lagos State, to close ranks rather than remain divided at a time he described as critical for Nigeria’s democracy.

Doherty maintained that his exit from the PDP was partly driven by his commitment to fostering unity among opposition forces capable of promoting accountability, constitutional governance, and improved welfare for citizens.

He did not immediately state whether he would join another political party.