2027 Election: Dino Melaye, 2 Other Atiku's Allies Who Have Dumped PDP for ADC, List Springs Up
- A new opposition coalition has emerged in Nigeria, led by former Vice President (VP) Atiku Abubakar and ex-Anambra state governor Peter Obi
- On July 16, Atiku formally resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing ‘irreconcilable differences’
- On Thursday, July 31, Atiku's strong ally, Dino Melaye, followed suit; Legit.ng looks at other associates of the ex-VP who have teamed up with the ADC coalition
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering elections, politics, and governance in Nigeria.
FCT, Abuja - Nigeria's opposition leader Atiku Abubakar resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently.
Atiku is working with other key opposition figures to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 election.
Source: Facebook
Legit.ng reports that although Atiku is currently in an alliance with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), he has yet to formally complete his move to the party.
Atiku chose the ADC coalition as his new political platform after breaking away from the PDP, a party whose flag he flew in the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections.
Political associates have also thrown their weight behind Atiku's move, with some imitating the 78-year-old's move.
In this report, Legit.ng highlights three of Atiku's allies who have dumped the PDP for the ADC.
Pro-Atiku ADC coalition acquisitions
1) Dino Melaye
Former Kogi West senator Dino Melaye submitted his resignation from the PDP, accusing the party of failing to provide “meaningful political direction” for Nigeria.
In a resignation letter addressed to PDP leadership on Thursday, July 31, Melaye announced his withdrawal from the party “at all levels of involvement,” effective immediately. The letter detailed his decision as the result of “deep reflection on the current state of the party.”
Source: Facebook
Melaye wrote:
“I hereby tender my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at all levels of involvement.
"This decision has become imperative due to the lack of potency and capacity by the party to deliver the Nigerian people from the prevailing political cankerworms that have eaten deeply into the fabric of our dear nation.”
2) Aliyu Bello
Bello, the financial secretary of the PDP in Kaduna state, stepped down from his position and officially withdrew his membership from the party.
Leadership said he joined the ADC ahead of the 2027 elections in Nigeria.
Bello, a longtime PDP stalwart and prominent ally of Atiku, announced his resignation in two separate letters dated Wednesday, July 16, 2025, addressed to the Kaduna state PDP chairman and the chairman of his Tudun Nupawa ward.
In the letter to the state chairman, Bello wrote:
“I write to formally inform you of my decision to resign voluntarily from my position as the financial secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna state, effective Wednesday, July 16, 2025.”
3) Musa Elayo
Recently, a former minister of state for justice and member of Atiku's 2023 presidential campaign council (PCC), formally resigned from the party after 26 years of membership.
In a resignation letter dated July 10, and addressed to the PDP chairman and ward secretary in Iwagu Ward, Keana local government area of Nasarawa state, Elayo said his decision followed “a period of deep reflection and consideration” of his political beliefs and principles.
Reports emerged on Wednesday, July 30, that Elayo is the new national vice chairman of diaspora for the ADC. Legit.ng cannot, however, immediately verify this claim.
Kaduna commissioner set to join ADC
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Professor Muhammad Sani Bello, the Kaduna state commissioner of information, officially resigned from his role.
Reports seen by Legit.ng indicated that Prof. Bello, a former governorship candidate in the prominent northwest state, is set to join the ADC coalition platform ahead of the 2027 election.
Source: Legit.ng
