Former Kogi State lawmaker Dino Melaye has declared that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will field a formidable candidate capable of toppling President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, despite the party’s recent influx of prominent political figures.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Melaye emphasized that the ADC must first build a “comfortable, stable platform” before focusing on who will become its presidential flagbearer.
“Those of us in the ADC need to create a comfortable, stable platform. And I believe that platform will produce a candidate that will unseat President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in 2027,” Melaye stated.
He stressed that he would refrain from endorsing any particular aspirant until the party stabilizes and holds a transparent convention to select its presidential candidate.
Describing the ADC as a “national altar call,” Melaye called on Nigerians to reevaluate the party’s role in national politics. He likened ADC membership to responding to a spiritual summons appealing to Nigerians with conscience and a genuine desire for positive change.
“Why Nigerians should think differently about the ADC is that once there’s an altar call in the church of God only those who are emotionally affected, have conscience, and are ready to leave darkness and move into light respond. So, ADC is a national altar call,” he explained.
He continued, urging Nigerians to reflect on their legacy for future generations:
“Not everybody in ADC is a saint, but what I’m telling you is that everybody who moved into ADC is concerned about Nigeria. We want to see a Nigeria where we’ll be able to answer questions from our grandchildren who will ask us, when we’re 90 and toothless: ‘When Nigeria was being destroyed, Grandpa, what did you do?’ We want to be able to say we did A, B, C, and D.”
Melaye’s remarks come in the wake of a major opposition coalition meeting on July 2 at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. At that meeting, various political leaders endorsed the ADC as the primary platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential contest.
Notably, ADC founder Ralph Nwosu officially welcomed former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim chairman and secretary of the coalition, respectively, presenting them with party membership cards.
The event was attended by a host of notable political figures, including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Ireti Kingibe, Dele Momodu, Emeka Ihedioha, and Dino Melaye himself.
