Dino Melaye Alleges APC Infiltration of PDP Under Acting Chairman Damagun

Former Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has alleged that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been infiltrated by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the leadership of the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun.

Melaye made this claim in response to the recently concluded gubernatorial election in Edo State, where the PDP suffered a defeat.

In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Melaye expressed concern over the future of the PDP, pointing to the election result as evidence of internal sabotage.

“With the destroyer called Damagun on the wheels, PDP is in the departure lounge waiting for the boarding pass,” Melaye stated.

He further alleged, “Edo experience will be a joke, there are more APC in the NWC than PDP.”

The criticism from Melaye follows the loss of the PDP’s governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who secured 247,274 votes in Saturday’s election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, as the winner with 291,667 votes, a result announced by the Returning Officer, Professor Faruk Adamu Kuta.

This is not the first time Melaye has raised concerns about Damagun’s leadership. He previously accused the acting chairman of steering the party towards destruction, claiming that the PDP’s founding fathers—figures like Alex Ekwueme, Solomon Lar, Sunday Awoniyi, Adamu Chiroma, Tony Anenih, and Abubakar Rimi—would be disheartened by the current state of the party.

Melaye’s remarks reflect growing dissatisfaction within certain factions of the PDP, as the party faces mounting challenges in the aftermath of the Edo election and prepares for future contests.

The senator’s accusations of APC influence within the PDP have sparked debate about the leadership’s direction and the party’s ability to regain its footing in Nigeria’s political landscape.