Dino Melaye Declares PDP Finished, Accuses APC Presidential Villa Agents Of Controlling Opposition Party Machinery

 

Former Senator Dino Melaye has taken aim at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dismissing the once-dominant opposition group as a lifeless body that has allegedly fallen under the control of agents loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) within the Presidential Villa. Speaking during a live appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Monday night, the outspoken politician delivered one of his harshest critiques of the PDP since parting ways with the party.

Melaye, who represented Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, is no stranger to fiery political commentary. On the show, he described the PDP as “dead and buried,” adding that what currently parades itself as the party is nothing more than a puppet organisation controlled by the ruling APC. According to him, the PDP has lost its soul, structure, and independence, leaving it incapable of serving as a genuine opposition force in Nigeria’s political space.

The politician employed vivid imagery to underscore his claim, stating that “apart from our Lord Jesus Christ no dead can rise again.” He argued that whatever semblance of activity or organisation being observed in the PDP at present is superficial, likening it to a corpse being advertised in an obituary notice. For Melaye, the PDP ceased to exist as a functional party long ago, and the remnants are simply being directed by handlers stationed in the Presidential Villa.

He went further to allege that the PDP had been “sold” and that even the record of such a transaction may not exist. In his view, the absence of genuine opposition politics is the result of a calculated compromise where loyalists of the APC now determine the agenda of the PDP. This, he claimed, has created a hollow structure that offers no resistance to the current ruling party and serves only as a shadow of what a democracy needs for balance.

His remarks were also a direct response to comments credited to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who had earlier suggested that the PDP must first rebuild itself into a proper party before seeking electoral victories. Melaye seized on that statement, stressing that if a sitting governor openly admits that the party needs to reconstitute itself, it is clear that there is no functional platform left. He declared that Governor Makinde’s candid assessment only reaffirms his argument that the PDP has expired and now exists in name alone.

A significant part of Melaye’s interview was dedicated to championing his current political platform, the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He revealed pride in being a member of the ADC and projected the party as the true alternative Nigerians need. According to him, the ADC is the vehicle that will successfully challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in the 2027 general election. With confidence, he predicted that Tinubu would be ousted from the Presidential Villa by May 29, 2027, and replaced by leadership emerging from the ADC.

Observers see Melaye’s bold declarations as part of a larger realignment of Nigeria’s political actors as the country edges toward the mid-point of President Tinubu’s tenure. His statements highlight growing dissatisfaction among politicians who were once affiliated with the PDP but now believe the party lacks the internal coherence to mount any credible challenge to the APC. For many, the former senator’s assertions echo a popular perception that the PDP’s internal squabbles, defections, and leadership crises have left it weakened beyond repair.

The PDP, which governed Nigeria for 16 years before losing power to the APC in 2015, has faced repeated challenges in reclaiming its lost dominance. Internal divisions, protracted legal battles over leadership, and the defection of high-profile figures have all contributed to what many describe as its dwindling relevance. Melaye’s remarks add to the narrative that the PDP has been unable to reinvent itself, especially in the aftermath of the 2023 general election, where it struggled to mobilise broad-based support across the federation.

Political analysts note that while Melaye’s words may be dismissed by some as exaggerated or self-serving, they resonate with the growing feeling among citizens that the opposition is fractured and ineffective. His claim that APC agents inside the Villa directly influence PDP decisions paints a picture of a compromised political landscape where checks and balances are undermined. If true, it suggests that the ruling party not only dominates governance but also exercises control over the primary opposition, thereby eroding Nigeria’s democratic competition.

Critics of Melaye, however, argue that his rhetoric is coloured by his current political affiliation and personal frustrations with the PDP. They point out that the senator has shifted party loyalty multiple times in his career, often aligning with platforms that promise better personal and electoral prospects. To them, his prediction that the ADC will dethrone Tinubu might reflect more optimism than realism, considering the ADC has never won significant national seats in Nigeria’s elections.

Nonetheless, Melaye’s bold assertion that the PDP is now effectively an APC-controlled entity is likely to stir debate within political circles. For party loyalists still committed to rebuilding the PDP, his words will be seen as an attack on their efforts. For others disillusioned by the party’s trajectory, his comments might serve as confirmation of their fears that the opposition space in Nigeria has been hollowed out.

As the 2027 election season gradually approaches, Melaye’s prediction of an ADC-led government will be tested against political realities on the ground. Until then, his remarks remain a strong indictment of the PDP’s current state and a challenge to the opposition to prove it is still capable of fulfilling its historic role in Nigerian democracy.