Former federal lawmaker and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dino Melaye, has congratulated former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar following his landslide victory at the party’s presidential primary, drawing a comparison with Arsenal Football Club’s recent English Premier League title triumph.
Melaye, a known Arsenal supporter like Atiku, made the remark in a brief post shared on X on Thursday after the conclusion of the party’s primary election held on Wednesday night.
“Oga you did it like Arsenal,” Melaye wrote.
Atiku emerged victorious after securing 1,846,370 votes to defeat fellow contenders, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Managing Director of FSB International Bank, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
The results were announced by the returning officer for the election, Tunde Ogbeha.
Amaechi polled 504,117 votes, while Hayatu-Deen secured 177,120 votes.
With the latest victory, Atiku is set to make his sixth attempt at Nigeria’s presidency in the 2027 general election. However, he has previously appeared on the presidential ballot three times — in 2007, 2019 and 2023.
Melaye’s comparison appeared to reference Arsenal’s dramatic Premier League title success on May 19, when the London club clinched its first league crown in 22 years after Manchester City dropped points in a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.