Former senator and spokesperson of the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign, Dino Melaye, has said that while he maintains a strong personal bond with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, it does not compromise his political independence or right to speak out.
In a recent interview, Melaye dismissed claims that he blindly follows Atiku into any political party, insisting he is “a politician with his own mind.”
“I am not a teen and I’ve won elections in this country to the House of Representatives, to the Senate. If there’s convergence of ideology with Atiku Abubakar, it’s a fantastic thing — but I am a man of my own,” he said.
Melaye, who recently defected from the PDP to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), criticized his former party for what he described as a collapse of leadership and direction.
“The PDP became sick, and unfortunately, the party completely lost its direction, leadership, and the current leadership compromised,” he said.
Addressing the nature of his relationship with Atiku, Melaye stressed that principles come before loyalty.
“By the grace of God, I have an indestructible relationship with Atiku Abubakar, but that does not mean I don’t have principles… When Atiku is not doing the right things, I will say so.”
When asked whether he would support Atiku as a presidential candidate of the ADC in 2027, Melaye said the former Vice President has not declared any such ambition, and that his current focus, alongside the ADC leadership, is on stabilizing the party.
