African Democratic Congress chieftain and former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has said fresh efforts are underway to bring major opposition figures together ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Melaye said discussions among opposition leaders were continuing, insisting that the latest consultations could produce a broader political alliance before the election.
Speaking on ARISE News, he said the NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi remained part of the conversations, while former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke had also shown willingness to engage in the talks.
“I want to let you know that the opposition parties are talking and working,” Melaye said.
“Even today, Peter Obi spoke here in Port Harcourt and said the talks are ongoing and he is part of it. I personally had an interaction with Donald Duke, who is also willing to have a discussion on the opposition coming together.”
According to Melaye, the objective is to build a sufficiently broad opposition front, even if every political bloc does not eventually sign on.
“By the grace of God, we will have a headway shortly. Discussions are ongoing, and the opposition will work together,” he said.
“We may not get 100 per cent of everybody on board, but the majority of the opposition will come together.”
Melaye argued that such an alliance could pose a serious challenge to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress in 2027.
He also dismissed the APC’s early campaign mobilisation and nationwide political structure as guarantees of electoral victory.
According to him, public dissatisfaction over economic hardship and insecurity would play a major role in determining the outcome of the election.
“The hunger in the land, the insecurity — we don’t even need to campaign. People are just waiting to go out there and vote out the APC,” he claimed.
Melaye further said the opposition would rely heavily on voter mobilisation rather than the political machinery of governors, ministers and other government officials.
“While Tinubu is depending on his ministers and government functionaries, we are depending on the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
The former senator also cited the recent Osun election in arguing that the presence of senior ruling party figures on the campaign trail does not automatically guarantee victory.
