Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has issued a stern warning to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. As the Deputy Director-General of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Melaye declared that the party would defend itself against alleged attacks and intimidation of opposition members. He accused the APC of orchestrating attacks against opposition politicians and supporters in different parts of Nigeria.
Melaye alleged that some ADC members had been killed, while several others had suffered intimidation, harassment, and physical attacks. The party’s governorship candidates in Sokoto, Kaduna, and Katsina states had recently been attacked, with properties destroyed and people injured in Kogi State. Melaye also referred to an incident in Edo State, where an ADC supporter was beaten to death. He described these alleged attacks as acts of desperation by the ruling APC.
During an interview on Arise Television, Melaye stated that the ADC would no longer remain silent if its members continued to face attacks. He warned that any attempt to undermine the opposition during the forthcoming elections would be resisted. Melaye referred to a statement he made, “This time around, all die na die,” which means the ADC would defend itself rather than allow the alleged attacks to continue without resistance.
Melaye cited the Osun State governorship election, claiming that over 50 people died during election-related violence, with about 30 deaths recorded in Ilesa alone. He warned President Bola Tinubu and the APC against assuming that the opposition would resort to legal action if it believed the 2027 elections were manipulated. Instead, Melaye stated that the ADC would settle the matter on the streets.
Arise Television presenter Charles Aniagolu cautioned against any suggestion of violence, stating that the station did not support violent conduct. Melaye insisted that the ADC was a non-violent political party but maintained that its members had the right to defend themselves against attacks. He argued that self-defence was a constitutional and fundamental right.
Melaye also accused the APC of being responsible for acts of violence against opposition figures, including Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, during an incident in Benue State. He raised concerns over the movement of the party’s campaign team to Sokoto State, alleging that the APC was planning to prevent its aircraft from taking off from the airport.
Melaye expressed confidence that the alleged plan would not succeed and declared that the ADC would demonstrate the power of citizens during the 2027 elections. He stated that the party would prove that the government was not owned by those in government, but by the people. Melaye’s comments come amid controversies surrounding the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs discovered in INEC’s preliminary voters’ register.
Key points
- Dino Melaye warns APC against attacks on opposition members ahead of 2027 elections.
- Melaye alleges that APC is responsible for violence against opposition figures.
- ADC vows to defend itself against alleged attacks and intimidation.
