A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dino Melaye, has urged President Bola Tinubu and his family to begin preparing to leave the Aso Rock Presidential Villa ahead of the 2027 general election.
Melaye made the statement on Monday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he criticised the Tinubu administration over what he described as widespread hardship, insecurity, corruption and poor governance.
The former senator said there was a growing disconnect between the government and Nigerians, arguing that the situation would reflect in the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.
“The president and his family members should begin to pack their luggage from the Aso Rock Villa, including those in the Boys’ Quarters,” Melaye said.
READ RRLATED STORY
Dino Melaye alleges APC, Tinubu doesn’t want elections in 2027
Dino Melaye says Peter Obi a‘ fantastic man’ but not ready to be Nigeria’s President
He expressed confidence that the ADC would defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 election, saying Nigerians were dissatisfied with the current administration.
“The results will tell in January because there will be a change of government in 2027,” he said.
Melaye attributed the expected victory of the ADC to what he described as widespread disenchantment among Nigerians over economic hardship, insecurity and alleged corruption.
“The winning strategy for the ADC is very simple. The people are with us. The people are tired of maladministration, lies, borrowing, three budgets and three successions not being implemented,” he said.
He also criticised the government over budget implementation, alleging that some projects awarded in 2024 had not been paid for while the administration was still implementing the 2024 budget in 2026.
According to him, the failure to adequately fund and implement budgets had contributed to the growing dissatisfaction among Nigerians.
Melaye further accused the administration of being insensitive to the plight of citizens, contrasting it with previous governments.
He said Nigerians were now afraid of the government because of what he described as the administration’s “brazen” and “nonchalant” approach to governance.
“Under the Tinubu administration, people are afraid of the government because they are so brazen, wicked, nonchalant and don’t give a damn,” he said.
The ADC chieftain also took exception to Tinubu’s reported remark that “all is fair in politics”, arguing that such comments could encourage electoral malpractice and violence.
“You have a president who has come out on air to tell the whole world that all is fair in politics. Rigging is fair in politics. Violence is fair in politics. Ballot snatching is fair in politics,” Melaye said.
He argued that the president should serve as a role model, particularly for younger Nigerians, and said presidential statements carried significant influence.
“You are a president. You are supposed to be a mentor. The words of presidents are supposed to be quotations on a daily basis,” he said.
Melaye maintained that Nigerians were closely watching developments under the current administration and would express their judgment through their votes in 2027.
“And I am telling you that the results will tell in January 2027,” he added.
