As the internal strife of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues to escalate, stakeholders under the banner of PDP Frontliners have unleashed a devastating rebuke of Dino Melaye, the party’s former governorship candidate in Kogi State.
Melaye has come under fire for his recent public attacks on the party’s leadership, which he accused of “commercializing and privatizing” the PDP under the current leadership of Amb. Umar Damagum.
The PDP Frontliners, a prominent faction within the party, didn’t mince words in their condemnation, calling Melaye’s accusations “discourteous” and “unfounded.” The group’s leaders, Alhaji Hussein Mohammed, Mr. Moses Abidemi, and Mr. Dan Okafor, made their stance clear in a statement released in Abuja, expressing deep dissatisfaction with Melaye’s rhetoric.
The group accused Melaye of hypocrisy, pointing out that the same party leadership he now criticizes was instrumental in his political rise, including securing him the PDP governorship ticket in Kogi State and previously facilitating his return to the Senate after he defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“These are strange times for the PDP,” the statement read. “Dino Melaye, who received significant resources and support from the party, failed to mobilize effectively during the Kogi governorship elections. Despite this, he now blames the very officials who facilitated his opportunities within the PDP.”
Read also: Dino Melaye Blasts PDP Leadership: Accuses Damagum, Anyanwu of destroying party
The PDP Frontliners further alleged that Melaye’s failures contributed to the party’s poor performance in Kogi State, where it garnered only 46,000 votes in the last gubernatorial election. They accused him of not even bothering to vote, despite being the party’s flag bearer, and questioned his commitment to the PDP.
Adding fuel to the fire, the group highlighted Melaye’s controversial social media post where he declared, “End of the road for PDP as Damagun, Bature, and Anyanwu irredeemably destroyed the party,” accusing the leadership of causing the party’s decline. The PDP Frontliners claimed that Melaye’s attack is a smokescreen to deflect from his own shortcomings and a failed attempt to manipulate the party’s processes for his gain.
The group also suggested that Melaye’s anger towards the PDP leadership stems from their decision to cancel a manipulated delegate process in Kogi State, a move that was widely supported by local party chairmen and aimed at preventing the commercialization of the party’s support base ahead of the 2027 elections.
Despite the ongoing turmoil, the PDP Frontliners remain optimistic. They believe that with decisive action and strong leadership, the PDP can overcome its current crisis and re-establish itself as the leading political force in Kogi State and across Nigeria.
