Abuja, Nigeria – The Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has openly criticized Senator Dino Melaye, labeling him a liability to the party. The criticism was led by party elders in the state, headed by Ibrahim Dansofo, who urged the local executive committee in Ijumu to initiate immediate suspension proceedings against Melaye.
The elders emphasized that Melaye’s actions have become detrimental to the party’s integrity and focus on viable leadership. This call for suspension follows Melaye’s recent scathing remarks against the acting national chairman of the PDP, Iliya Damagum, alongside Samuel Anyanwu and Umar Bature. Melaye claimed that the three party chieftains had irredeemably destroyed the former ruling party.
Responding to Melaye’s accusations, the PDP elders condemned his remarks, stating that Melaye’s political ambitions have crumbled to such an extent that he can no longer secure even a local councillor position. Dansofo and his group of elders described Melaye as a burden to the party, suggesting that his continued association with the PDP is motivated by personal gain rather than any positive contribution.
“Senator Melaye has become a burden to the party,” Dansofo said. “His accusations against the current leadership are hypocritical, as he himself was granted a governorship ticket despite the party’s awareness of his inability to win even a primary election.”
The elders further blamed Melaye for the party’s current struggles in Kogi State, asserting that his nomination was a significant misstep that has led to the party’s present predicament. They also called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to reconsider their support for Melaye, urging them to distance themselves from someone they described as a “bondage” and a “big-time liability” for the party.
The PDP elders urged the Nigerian public to disregard Melaye’s remarks, dismissing them as the desperate words of a man whose political relevance has long since faded. They concluded by reaffirming the Kogi PDP’s determination to move forward, reclaim its strength, and rebuild its reputation as a formidable political force in the state. They also called on Melaye to account for the billions of naira he allegedly collected in the name of the governorship election.