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Former Kogi State senator and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Dino Melaye has criticised the composition of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, vowing to challenge some of the appointments in court.
Melaye particularly faulted the appointment of Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), as Deputy Director of Fundraising for Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Melaye argued that Adedeji’s simultaneous roles as a public revenue official and a campaign fundraiser created a conflict of interest.
“What has happened actually shows the desperation of the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Melaye said.
He maintained that the laws governing the NRS and public service rules prevented Adedeji from holding both positions, adding that he intended to seek judicial interpretation of the matter.
“By the extant laws establishing NRS and the public service rules to which he is accountable, he cannot be the chairman of NRS and at the same time be a fundraiser for the presidential campaign office of a sitting president,” he said.
According to Melaye, the arrangement raised both legal and ethical concerns because Adedeji is responsible for raising revenue for the Federal Government while also being assigned to mobilise funds for the President’s re-election campaign.
He alleged that the campaign council was structured to mobilise funds through various sectors of the economy, with ministers assigned responsibilities related to their portfolios.
Melaye described the arrangement as “ridiculous and unacceptable” and insisted that Nigeria must operate according to the rule of law.
“Nigeria is not a banana republic. This gives us an indication that that is why he was appointed chairman ab initio—the intention was to use him as chairman of NRS so he could provide funds for the election,” he alleged.
Melaye said he would proceed with legal action even though reports indicated that Tinubu had suspended the campaign council list.
He suggested that the suspension could have been prompted by criticism from the opposition and warned that removing some names from a revised list would not stop his planned court challenge.
“Because of our outcry and because we are heading to court, in a quick turnover, I heard the president has suspended the list,” he said.
“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.”
The ADC chieftain also questioned Tinubu’s decision to serve as chairman of his own presidential campaign council.
He argued that a presidential candidate should not simultaneously oversee the body campaigning for his re-election.
“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?” Melaye asked.
He interpreted the arrangement as evidence that Tinubu lacked confidence in his governors, ministers and other campaign officials and wanted to maintain direct control over the election machinery.
Melaye further warned that the opposition would closely monitor the 2027 election for any alleged irregularities or malpractice.
“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,” he said.
He also criticised what he described as the sector-by-sector structure of the campaign council’s fundraising arrangements, alleging that the setup could expose government agencies and contractors to political pressure.
Melaye maintained that the opposition would continue to scrutinise the APC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election and pursue legal avenues where it believes public officials or institutions have breached established rules.
