PDP: Why I Dumped Saraki For Atiku Abubakar – Dino Melaye

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dino Melaye has said he backed the presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar because Nigeria needs a unifier.

Melaye, who is a former lawmaker representing Kogi West in Senate, said Atiku will win the 2023 presidential election by a landslide.

Speaking on TVC’s current affairs programme, Journalists’ Hangout, the ex-lawmaker expressed confidence in the party’s ability to reclaim power from the APC government.

On him switching support from the former Senator President, Bukola Saraki to Atiku, Dino Melaye said he decided to back the known over the unknown.

He said: “I did not switch support from Saraki to Atiku. I was 100 per cent with Saraki when I was with him. I have no problem with Saraki, I still saw him this morning and we both laughed together.

“I chose Atiku this time because I have to stay with the known to the unknown. At this time, we need a unifier, who can unite Nigeria. One who cannot be seen as a Muslim, or Christian. Atiku is a popular person whose name is known every in Nigeria. So I moved from unknown to known. So, I did not switch support but support the man who can make Nigeria great.”

On his senatorial primary defeat, Dino Melaye stated that his failed bid to return to the Senate was now behind him.

He said, “I have moved on. All that happened in the Senate rerun have become history. I really don’t want to dwell on the past. That primary has gone and I have moved on.

“As a Senator, in terms of representation, I did my best because I implemented so many projects. In the history of the National Assembly, I have the highest number of bills. The records are there, they are incontrovertible. I did my best for my people.”