Melaye slams Tinubu for chairing own 2027 campaign council, threatens lawsuit
Dino Melaye, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has again criticised President Bola Tinubu for chairing his own Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Melaye said the arrangement is like a groom chairing his own wedding reception. Tinubu recently named himself chairman of the council and appointed former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General. Melaye also revealed he plans to take Tinubu to court over the alleged appointment of Dr Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, as Deputy Director of Fundraising for the campaign.
The criticism highlights growing friction within the opposition as Tinubu prepares to face former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is also the ADC's presidential candidate, and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). By leading his own campaign structure, Tinubu centralises control but opens himself to questions about impartiality and potential conflicts of interest, especially with Adedeji's role in revenue collection.
Melaye's threatened lawsuit could add a legal dimension to the already heated pre-election period, possibly delaying campaign activities or forcing clarifications on campaign finance rules. Voters watching the 2027 race should note how internal opposition dynamics and legal challenges might shape candidate credibility and party strategies in the coming months.
Will Tinubu's self-chairmanship strengthen his campaign's cohesion or give opponents a fresh line of attack, and how might the legal threat affect public trust in the electoral process ahead of 2027?