Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has said he would defeat President Bola Tinubu in a free and fair presidential election, describing the president as the “most unpopular” politician in Nigeria.
Melaye made the remarks during a recent interview, where he also alleged that President Tinubu is not interested in a competitive electoral process but prefers what he described as a “coronation” for a second term.
The former lawmaker, who is a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisted that any presidential aspirant under the party would perform better than the current administration.
“Any person among those interested in the presidency in ADC will do one million times better than Tinubu. There can never be a worse president than Tinubu,” Melaye said.
He further challenged the president to allow what he called a genuinely free and fair contest, expressing confidence in his own chances against Tinubu.
“Let’s go on a free and fair election. Today, Bola Tinubu is the most unpopular politician in Nigeria. I will beat him flat. He won’t even stand up,” he added.
Melaye also accused the president of attempting to avoid electoral competition, claiming that Nigerians would resist any attempt to undermine democratic processes.
“Let him allow a free and fair contest. If he does not allow it, we will make him conduct an election because he does not want an election. He wants to be Kabiyesi and Igwe. We won’t allow that to happen in Nigeria,” he said.
Melaye contested the November 2023 Kogi State governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he finished third. Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the election with 446,237 votes, while Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) came second with 259,052 votes. Melaye polled 46,362 votes.
Boluwatife Enome
