Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has declared that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is determined to produce a credible presidential candidate capable of defeating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Melaye made this known on Friday during an interview on Politics Today, a political programme on Channels Television. He said the ADC is creating a stable and transparent platform to support a unifying candidate for the opposition.
“Those of us in the ADC need to create a comfortable, stable platform. And I believe that platform will produce a candidate that will unseat President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in 2027,” Melaye said.
He, however, noted that he would refrain from endorsing any aspirant until the party organises a transparent convention and finalises its internal structures.
Melaye, who has been a vocal critic of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), described the ADC as a “national altar call,” saying it represents a movement driven by conscience and a desire to rescue Nigeria.
“Why Nigerians should think differently about the ADC is that once there’s an altar call in the church of God—only those who are emotionally affected, have conscience, and are ready to leave darkness and move into light respond. So, ADC is a national altar call,” he said.
He added that those joining the party are concerned about Nigeria’s future and are committed to making a difference.
The ADC recently gained momentum following the formation of an opposition coalition in July. The coalition, which includes prominent political figures such as Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and Melaye himself, endorsed the ADC as the platform to present a unified presidential candidate against the APC in 2027.
Despite criticisms and doubts from APC leaders, including former APC National Secretary Iyiola Omisore, who dismissed the coalition’s strength due to internal rivalries, Melaye insisted the movement is gaining ground.
In a show of growing influence, the party in July welcomed former Senate President David Mark and ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola into its ranks. Both were presented with ADC membership cards by the party’s founder, Ralph Nwosu, and have since been announced as interim national chairman and secretary of the coalition, respectively.
Melaye said the coalition’s mission is to ensure that future generations can look back and see that efforts were made to rescue Nigeria.
“We want to see a Nigeria where we’ll be able to answer questions from our grandchildren who will ask us, when we’re 90 and toothless: ‘When Nigeria was being destroyed, Grandpa, what did you do?’ We want to be able to say we did A, B, C, and D,” he said.
