Former Kogi West lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye has expressed confidence that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will produce a formidable candidate capable of unseating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Melaye made the declaration while speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Friday, where he stressed the need to first stabilise the party before rallying behind any presidential hopeful.
“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,” he said.
Melaye, who recently joined the ADC alongside other major opposition leaders, emphasised that his focus at this time is not on personalities but on building an effective and united front.
“I have made it a point of duty that I will not be talking about a presidential candidate or aspirant or preference for anybody until we get the party completely stabilised and organise a transparent convention that will produce a presidential candidate of the ADC who, by the grace of God, will kick,” he stated.
Giving an analogy, Melaye likened the ADC to a spiritual revival movement, calling it a “national altar call” for Nigerians seeking truth, change, and conscience-driven leadership.
“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 said.
“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.”
LEADERSHIP reports that Melaye’s comments came on the heels of a significant opposition coalition meeting held on July 2 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
The gathering brought together political heavyweights from across the country who resolved to rally around the ADC as the vehicle to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential race.
At the meeting, ADC founder, Ralph Nwosu welcomed former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola into the party.
Mark was announced as interim national chairman of the coalition, while Aregbesola was named its interim secretary.
Also present at the event were major political figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi; former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai; former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi; Ovation magazine publisher, Dele Momodu; former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha; Senator Melaye, among others.
