Dino Melaye, chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), says Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), does not have the national structure needed to become Nigeria’s president.
Melaye spoke in an interview on the KaaTruths Podcast
published on Friday.
He described the former governor of Anambra as a regional
champion who lacks the national appeal that Atiku Abubakar, president candidate
of African Democratic Congress (ADC), and President Bola Tinubu, his major
contenders in the race, currently enjoy.
Obi contested the 2023 presidential election under the
platform of the Labour Party, but came third behind Tinubu and Atiku, who came
first and second, respectively.
The former governor won in 11 states, including Lagos,
Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He, however, failed to poll substantial votes in core
northern states and other south-west states.
Melaye said Obi’s performance in the 2023 election showed
that his support base remained largely concentrated in the southeast.
“Atiku is a nationalist. Obi is a regional champion. It may
sound awkward. It may sound offensive. Obi is a good man. He’s my friend. I
have respect for him. But he’s a regional champion,” Melaye said.
“And no regional champion in this country will ever be
president.”
The ADC chieftain compared Obi with prominent Nigerian
politicians, including Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Aminu Kano, whom he
described as regional champions despite their political influence and national
prominence.
He said former President Muhammadu Buhari also struggled to
win the presidency while contesting as a “regional champion”, despite securing
millions of votes in the north.
“Today, if you cast this election again, Peter’s highest
vote will only come from the southeast,” Melaye said.
He noted that winning the presidency requires a candidate to
secure 25 percent of votes in at least two-thirds of the states, adding that a
candidate must have structures across the country to achieve that.
Melaye said the issue has nothing to do with where a
candidate’s votes came from, but the extent of their political structures
across the country.
“When we say national and regional, it’s not primarily about
where your votes are coming from. It’s about where you have structures. It’s
about where you have structures,” he said.
“Where is Peter’s structure in Katsina? Where is his
structure in Borno? Where is his structure in Ekiti? Where is his structure in
Ondo? That is what we are saying.
“But there is no state in this country that Atiku does not
have a structure. Because whether you like it or not, having been vice
president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he has influenced a lot of people
from different parts of this country. So he has built structures over the
years.
“Atiku started contesting the election in 2011. He ran for
presidency against MKO Abiola in 1992. Over the years, he has built structures
and he has the experience. Today, Peter Obi doesn’t have that national
structure.”
‘HE JUST WANTS TO BE CORONATED’
Obi had initially indicated interest to contest the 2027
presidential election under the ADC platform, but he later quit the party for
the NDC alongside Rabiu Kwankwaso, his running mate.
Melaye said ADC members would have supported Obi if he had
emerged as the party’s presidential candidate through its primary election.
He said the party’s hierarchy would have begged Atiku, who
later defeated Rotimi Amaechi in the party’s primary, to pull his weight behind
Obi.
“But unfortunately, Peter prefers an air-conditioned
kitchen. He doesn’t want primary. He just wants to be coronated,” Melaye added.
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