A political aide to Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister has sharply criticized former Senator Dino Melaye’s recent defection to an opposition coalition, calling the move emblematic of unreliable leadership. Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, accused Melaye of hypocrisy, referencing his apparent absence from polling activities during Kogi State’s recent gubernatorial election.
Olayinka’s remarks came during a televised interview with Channels Television, where he disparaged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, labeling them “bad eggs” detrimental to political accountability. “Let the bad eggs leave,” he stated, singling out Melaye as an example. “Someone who was a PDP candidate but stayed home creating social media content on election day is now championing a coalition. He didn’t even vote for himself. That’s the irony here,” Olayinka asserted, underscoring Melaye’s alleged lack of electoral engagement.
Melaye, a vocal critic of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), had represented Kogi West in the Senate from 2015 to 2019. His shift to the ADC, announced earlier this week, marks his latest attempt to consolidate opposition efforts against the APC-dominated government. However, Olayinka’s critique casts doubt on Melaye’s credibility as a coalition leader, framing his defection as opportunistic rather than principled.
The ADC, a smaller party seeking to position itself as a unifying force among Nigeria’s fractured opposition groups, has yet to respond to the remarks. Analysts note that political defections are common in Nigeria’s volatile landscape, often driven by intra-party disputes or strategic calculations ahead of elections. Melaye’s move follows months of internal PDP tensions, including public clashes between Wike — a former PDP governor now aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s administration — and factions loyal to PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Olayinka’s comments reflect broader skepticism about opposition cohesion, particularly as Nigeria approaches local elections in 2024. Critics argue that frequent party-switching undermines public trust, while supporters view realignments as necessary to challenge entrenched power structures. Melaye, known for his fiery rhetoric and social media presence, has historically leveraged controversy to mobilize support, though Olayinka’s remarks suggest dwindling patience for what he perceives as performative politics.
As of publication, Melaye has not publicly addressed the criticism. His defection highlights ongoing turbulence within Nigerian opposition ranks, raising questions about the viability of coalition-building in a system dominated by the APC and PDP. For now, the exchange underscores the personal and ideological fissures shaping the country’s next electoral cycle.
