The Kogi State PDP has called for the suspension of Senator Dino Melaye, labeling him a "liability" and blaming him for the party's current struggles. Party elders criticized Melaye's leadership, urging top PDP figures to distance themselves from him as they work to restore the party's integrity and strength.
In a move highlighting deepening internal rifts within the Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), senior party members have called for the suspension of Senator Dino Melaye, branding him a "liability" to the party. The call, spearheaded by PDP elders led by Ibrahim Dansofo, urges the local executive committee in Ijumu to swiftly initiate suspension proceedings against Melaye, emphasizing the need to restore the party's integrity and focus on leadership that can drive the party forward.
This demand for suspension comes in the wake of Melaye's scathing criticism of the PDP's national leadership. On Saturday, Melaye accused the acting national chairman, Iliya Damagum, alongside Samuel Anyanwu and Umar Bature, of irreparably damaging the party. He claimed that the trio had destroyed the PDP, leaving it in a state of disarray.
Reacting to Melaye's remarks, the party elders condemned his comments, arguing that his political ambitions had crumbled to the point where he could no longer secure even a local councillor position. Dansofo and other elders characterized Melaye as a burden to the party, suggesting that his association with the PDP served more to negotiate personal gains with the ruling party rather than to contribute positively to the PDP's objectives.
"Senator Melaye has become a burden to the party," Dansofo stated. "His accusations against the current leadership are hypocritical, given that he was granted a governorship ticket despite the party's awareness of his inability to win even a primary election."
The Kogi PDP leadership blames Melaye for the party's current struggles, citing his nomination as a significant misstep that has led to their present predicament. The elders have called on prominent PDP figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, to reconsider their support for Melaye, urging them to distance themselves from someone they described as a "bondage" and a "big-time liability" for the party.
The PDP elders also appealed to the Nigerian public to disregard Melaye's recent remarks, labeling them as desperate outbursts from a politician whose relevance has waned. "The Kogi PDP is determined to move forward, reclaim its strength, and rebuild its reputation as a formidable political force in the state," they added, calling on Melaye to account for the billions he allegedly collected in the name of the governorship election.
This unfolding drama within the Kogi PDP underscores the challenges the party faces as it grapples with internal divisions and seeks to reassert its influence in the state's political landscape.
