Dino Melaye Expresses Regret For Backing APC, Signals ADC’s Ambition For 2027.
Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has publicly apologised for his previous support of the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a grave misjudgement that contributed to Nigeria’s current socio-economic woes. Speaking on Channels Television’s *Politics Today* programme on Friday, Melaye expressed deep remorse, stating, “Once I was blind, now I can see. I regret in totality. Just like you confess your sins daily in the Lord’s prayer, I ask for forgiveness.”
Melaye, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on 31 July 2025, cited the APC’s failure to address Nigeria’s escalating challenges as a key reason for his regret. He lambasted the ruling party for deepening hunger, poverty, and insecurity, asserting that the situation is “visible even to the blind and audible to the deaf.” He warned that malnutrition is claiming lives in rural communities and that desperation for basic necessities like food could lead to tragic consequences. “If you announce you’re sharing two bags of rice in your village, you risk casualties from the stampede,” he said.
Reflecting on his role in supporting the APC during the 2015 campaign that ousted former President Goodluck Jonathan, Melaye extended a personal apology to Jonathan, saying, “President Jonathan, I am sincerely sorry.” He described his past alignment with the APC as an “unholy tendency” and urged others who backed the party to share in his regret.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Melaye expressed confidence in the ADC’s potential to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He emphasised the party’s focus on building a stable platform to produce a credible presidential candidate capable of unseating Tinubu. “We in the ADC need to create a comfortable, stable platform. I believe that platform will produce a candidate that will unseat President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in 2027,” he declared.
When pressed on whether he would support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who also recently left the PDP, Melaye declined to endorse any individual, prioritising the stabilisation of the ADC. “I will not talk about a presidential candidate until we organise a transparently honest convention,” he said. However, he praised Atiku’s efforts to unite “men of honour and valour” to address the “satanic manifestation of the APC,” suggesting a collaborative push to challenge the ruling party.
Melaye’s defection to the ADC follows his resignation from the PDP, which he announced on 4 July 2025, citing the party’s inability to counter Nigeria’s “prevailing political cankerworms.” His move marks a significant realignment in Nigerian politics as opposition figures regroup ahead of 2027.
The former senator’s outspoken criticism of the APC, coupled with his call for forgiveness, has sparked widespread discussion on social media platforms like X, where users have shared mixed reactions to his political shift and apology. Some view his remorse as a bold step, while others question his motives given his history of party defections.
Melaye’s remarks underscore a broader discontent with the APC’s governance, which he likened to a “car being driven by a drunken driver,” lacking direction and clarity. He also criticised the government’s use of two national anthems and multiple versions of naira notes, arguing that such inconsistencies exacerbate Nigeria’s economic crisis and enable the spread of counterfeit currency.
As Nigeria grapples with mounting challenges, Melaye’s public apology and alignment with the ADC signal a renewed push for political change, with the 2027 elections already shaping up as a critical battleground for the country’s future.
