Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, acting chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has said Senator Dino Melaye is one of the bottlenecks bedevilling the major opposition in Nigeria.
The acting chairman also raised fresh concerns about internal party loyalty, citing Senator Dino Melaye’s actions during the recent Kogi gubernatorial election.
According to Damagum, Melaye, who ran for governor, failed to vote for himself.
Speaking in an interview, Damagum expressed frustration over Melaye’s role in weakening the party’s image.
“Let me remind you about that statement credited to Dino. He’s part of the problem. He ran for governor in Kogi State and didn’t even vote for himself,” he remarked.
This revelation comes as some party members have described the PDP as a “once upon a time party,” with Melaye himself allegedly making such a statement.
Damagum defended the PDP’s recent performance, claiming that the party had actually won the 2023 elections despite alleged manipulation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
While acknowledging the challenges the PDP has faced since its loss of power in 2015, Damagum remains confident about the party’s future.
He argued that internal crises and factionalism must be addressed if the party hopes to regain its former glory.
The PDP is still reeling from its 2023 presidential defeat, with many questioning its path forward.