Imagine an opposition party so hollowed out that its internal agenda is dictated not by its members, or even voters, but from the corridors of power it’s supposed to challenge. That was the incendiary accusation former senator Dino Melaye hurled on Monday night during a fiery appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time.
Between charisma and contempt, he told viewers: “Aside from our Lord Jesus Christ, no dead can rise again… PDP is dead and buried. What you’re seeing now is a makeshift party, controlled from the Presidential Villa by APC agents.”
This isn’t mere drama—it’s a political grenade thrown into the body politic of Nigeria. Across cable channels, social media reels, and street buzz, the framing is now a distraught apology from an institution that once claimed to oppose power. But when the seat of judgment becomes the seat of control, what hope remains?
According to Melaye, PDP was sold to the ruling party.
In his words, “Apart from our Lord Jesus Christ no dead can rise again and I want to tell you that whatever you are seeing is make-shift, the dead is dead, we can only advertise the obituary.
“Dead and buried, PDP was sold and I’m not sure if they got the receipt of payment but it was sold and what you have now is APC-controlled PDP.
“It’s a party that is being controlled from the Villa, it’s the agents of the APC that controls the PDP.”
Reacting to the remark of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, regarding PDP, Melaye added, “If a sitting governor is saying let’s have a party first, it means that there is no party.
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“I’m a proud member of the ADC and that is the party that will unseat Tinubu and by the grace of God send Tinubu out of the Villa, come may 29, 2027.”
Why These Allegations Matter — Deep, Slippery Trouble
1. Democratic Integrity vs Political Theatre
If an opposition party is effectively managed by its opponent, then elections aren’t contests—they’re illusions. This erodes trust in the very foundation of multiparty democracy.
2. A Sovereign Party or a Puppet?
Parties are supposed to reflect internal dialogue, ideology, and constituents—not executive orders. Melaye’s claim forces a national reckoning: is PDP still PDP—or an extension of APC’s apparatus?
3. Erosion of Confidence
For grassroots members, donors, and swing voters, this isn’t just hearsay. It’s possibly the final straw that drives disenchantment—and dangerous apathy.
4. Prepping for a New Contender
By joining ADC, Melaye isn’t just fleeing; he’s signal-boosting a new alternative for frustrated opposition voters, strategically positioning ADC as the real successor to what PDP once represented.
Democracy At A Crossroads
Dino Melaye is not simply angry, he’s existentially concerned. If factual, this claim reveals a political system where the opposition’s heartbeat is faked—and danger lies there. The real winner may not be who controls the presidency, but who controls the narrative of resistance.
Because if Melaye is right, and it’s not a conspiracy, then there’s no opposition left to oppose. At that point, the struggle isn’t political—it’s survival.
