Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has said former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi should be the one to work with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general election, arguing that Atiku is politically too big to be Obi's running mate.
Melaye stated this during an interview with DCL, where he dismissed suggestions that Atiku might not appear on the ballot in the next presidential election.
“It is not a Volkswagen that pulls a lorry. It is a lorry that pulls a Volkswagen. So, you should be talking about Peter Obi working with Atiku, not the other way around. Atiku is too big for Peter Obi to back,” he said.
Addressing concerns among APC and Atiku supporters over the political situation, Melaye urged them not to panic, insisting that the former vice-president would contest the election.
“My message to APC supporters all over the world is: no retreat, no surrender. There is no tension. There is no need to worry. There is no need to panic. We are okay. We are organised. We are good,” he said.
Melaye expressed confidence that Atiku would be on the ballot and defeat President Bola Tinubu, predicting that the president and his governors would suffer an electoral defeat.
“Atiku is going to be on the ballot. The elections will hold, and Atiku will win. Tinubu and his governors will be disgraced,” he declared.
He also questioned the electoral value of governors, citing the 2023 general election, when several serving governors contested for Senate seats.
“He is claiming and shouting that he has Atiku governors, that he has three governors. In the 2023 election, 12 governors contested for Senate. Only three won. What can a governor do for you today in our politics?” he asked.
The former senator urged Nigerians not to be intimidated by the political developments, maintaining that Atiku remained determined to contest.
“There is no shaking. Atiku is the candidate, and he is going to contest this election. He will be on the ballot, except Tinubu is trying to give us the Yugoslavian idea,” he added.