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Debunks Claims of Atiku’s Influence on his Defection to ADC
- Safiu Kehinde
Former Kogi State lawmaker, Sen. Dino Melaye, has explained reason behind his membership withdrawal from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while debunking claims of defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under the influence of former Nigerian Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
NPO Reported that Melaye had on Thursday tendered his resignation letter to the PDP chairman of his ward in Kogi.
Few hours after, the ex-lawmaker who represented Kogi West Senatorial District would in a post on his X handle announce his defection to the ADC.
Speaking in an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today programme on Friday, Melaye cited the leadership crisis in the PDP as reason for his withdrawal.
He accused the party’s leadership of compromise while noting that his defection to the ADC was borne out of loyalty to the people and not party.
“The PDP became sick. And unfortunately, the party lost direction. The party lost leadership, and the existing leadership compromised. We should not be loyal to banners.
“We should not be loyal to parties. We should be loyal to our faith.
“We should be loyal to the people either our followers or fellow citizens. So, I chose to be loyal to the people not to a political party.” He said.
The ex-lawmaker maintained that his defection was a personal decision as he debunked claims linking his move to the ADC to his relationship to Atiku who spearheaded the coalition group that adopted the party.
Melaye however acknowledged having close relationship with the former Vice President but reiterated that his defection to ADC was not influenced by him.
“I’m not a team. I’ve won elections in this country. If there is a convergence of ideology with Atiku Abubakar, it is a fantastic thing. But I’m a man of my own.
“I have indestructible relationship with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
“But that does not mean I do not have my own principle as a human being. An when Atiku is not doing the right thing, I will say so.
“I am a member of the ADC. I follow no one. I only follow Christ.” He said.
The speculations of Melaye’s defection being influenced by Atiku was borne out of the political journey of the duo which had usually followed a similar thread.
Melaye had in 2015 followed the footstep of Atiku to join the All Progressive Congress (APC) from the PDP.
He would again switch again to the PDP just as Atiku returned to the opposition party ahead of the 2023 General election which he lost.