Former Kogi State Senator and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dino Melaye, has kicked against the composition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, threatening to challenge some of its appointments in court.
Melaye’s objection centres on the appointment of Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), as Deputy Director of Fundraising for Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Melaye argued that Adedeji’s role as a public revenue official was incompatible with his involvement in raising funds for the re-election campaign of a sitting president.
According to him, the laws establishing the NRS, alongside existing public service regulations, do not permit Adedeji to occupy both positions simultaneously.
“What has happened actually shows the desperation of the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Melaye said.
He questioned how an official entrusted with mobilising revenue for the Federal Government could at the same time be responsible for fundraising for the President’s political campaign.
Melaye described the arrangement as both a legal and ethical concern, alleging that the campaign council appeared designed to mobilise funds across different sectors of the economy, with government officials assigned responsibilities linked to their portfolios.
“Nigeria is not a banana republic,” he said, insisting that public institutions must operate within the limits of the law.
The former senator further alleged that Adedeji’s appointment as NRS chairman may have been influenced by political considerations, claiming that the position could have been intended to facilitate access to funds for the 2027 election.
Although reports indicated that President Tinubu had suspended the campaign council’s list, Melaye said the development would not stop him from pursuing legal action.
He suggested that the suspension might have followed pressure from opposition parties, adding that even if controversial names were removed from a revised list, the legality of the appointments would still be tested in court.
“By the time the new list comes out, they may have amended some names and removed Zach Adedeji and others, but we are still heading to court to test the laws,” he said.
Melaye also criticised Tinubu’s decision to serve as chairman of his own presidential campaign council, arguing that the arrangement raises questions about the independence of the campaign structure.
“There is a general saying that you cannot be a judge in your own case. How can you be a candidate in an election and also be the chairman of the campaign council for that election?” he asked.
He interpreted the decision as a sign that the President may be unwilling to fully delegate control of the 2027 campaign machinery to his governors, ministers and other political associates.
The ADC chieftain also warned that the opposition would closely monitor the 2027 general elections, promising to scrutinise the activities of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Federal Government.
“This election is going to be different from every other election held in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Enough is enough. We have become watchdogs, and this time around, we are going to follow the president and the APC bumper to bumper,” Melaye said.
He further raised concerns about the council’s proposed sector-by-sector fundraising structure, alleging that it could place government agencies, contractors and other economic actors under political pressure.
Melaye maintained that the opposition would continue to scrutinise the APC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election and would seek judicial intervention whenever it believes public officials or institutions have acted outside the law.
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