Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has issued a stern warning to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will no longer tolerate alleged attacks, intimidation and harassment of its members ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Melaye, who serves as Deputy Director-General of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, accused the ruling party of sponsoring violence against opposition politicians and supporters in different parts of the country.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Monday night, the former lawmaker alleged that several ADC members had been attacked, with some reportedly killed in different incidents.
He specifically claimed that the party’s governorship candidates in Sokoto, Kaduna and Katsina states had recently come under attack.
He also alleged that properties were destroyed and several people injured in Kogi State, while opposition supporters continued to face threats and intimidation elsewhere.
Melaye further cited an incident in Edo State, where he claimed an ADC supporter was beaten to death.
Describing the alleged incidents as attempts to intimidate the opposition, Melaye warned that the ADC would defend its members rather than remain silent in the face of further attacks.
“But I want to announce to them that this time around, all die na die,” he declared.
Explaining the meaning of his statement, the former senator insisted that the party would resist any attempt to attack its members.
“What does that mean? It means we will defend ourselves. The ADC will not sit back, keep quiet and allow the APC to continue with these attacks,” he said.
Melaye also made allegations about violence during the Osun State governorship election, claiming that more than 50 people lost their lives in election-related incidents, including about 30 deaths in Ilesa.
He subsequently issued a warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC, insisting that the opposition would not automatically resort to the courts if it believed the 2027 elections had been manipulated.
“But we are announcing to Tinubu and the APC that this time around, we will defend ourselves. Let them not think we are going to court. We will not go to court. We will settle this matter on the streets,” Melaye stated.
His remarks prompted Arise Television presenter, Charles Aniagolu, to immediately distance the station from any suggestion of violence, stressing that the programme did not endorse violent conduct.
“Let me make it clear that here on Arise, we do not support any form of violence,” Aniagolu said.
Responding, Melaye maintained that the ADC was a non-violent political party but argued that its members had the right to protect themselves against physical attacks.
“ADC is a non-violent party. ADC is a non-violent party,” he reiterated.
He further described self-defence as a fundamental and constitutional right, insisting that party members would not allow themselves to be attacked without taking steps to protect their lives.
“Defending yourself, Charles, is a constitutional right. It is a God-given right. It is an inalienable right to defend myself,” he added.
The former senator also accused the APC of being responsible for attacks against opposition figures, including the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, during an incident in Benue State.
Using a hypothetical situation to justify his position, Melaye said: “If you are sitting here now and somebody is coming to stab you, you will defend yourself.”
He also raised concerns about the ADC campaign team’s planned movement to Sokoto State, alleging that the ruling party was planning to prevent the campaign aircraft from taking off from the airport on Wednesday.
“As I’m speaking to you, we have received intelligence this evening that APC is going to stop our planes from flying on our way to Sokoto on Wednesday. That it will not allow our planes to take off at the airport,” he alleged.
Despite the alleged threat, Melaye expressed confidence that the plan would not succeed, insisting that the ADC and its members had equal rights to participate in the country’s political activities.
“This country belongs to all of us. We are not aliens. We are Nigerians, and Nigeria is for Nigerians,” he said.
“We will prove that the government is not owned by those in government. Government is owned by the people, and the people are with us.”
He further maintained that the 2027 elections would provide an opportunity for citizens to demonstrate their constitutional authority over elected officials.
“This time around, we will prove that the people are more than those in government, and that the office of the Citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is greater than the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he added.
Melaye Accuses INEC of Anticipatory Rigging
The latest warning comes two days after Melaye accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of engaging in what he described as anticipatory rigging ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a post on his X account on Sunday, the former Kogi West senator expressed concerns over the commission’s recent activities, alleging that they could undermine the credibility of the forthcoming polls.
“The activities of INEC in recent times point at anticipatory rigging, which will be resisted,” he wrote.
He also called for changes within the electoral commission, warning that the ADC would not accept any attempt to manipulate the election results.
“INEC must be born again this time because we will not allow rigging. Rig and say your final prayer,” Melaye added.
His comments came amid controversies surrounding suspected artificial intelligence-generated photographs discovered in INEC’s preliminary voters’ register, as well as complaints by some political parties over the omission of their candidates from the commission’s final list.
