“There’s No President With Such Power”- Dino Melaye Raises Alarm Over Presidential Control Of INEC, Police, Military And CBN

• Former Kogi State senator Dino Melaye has called for a reduction in the powers of the Nigerian president, arguing that the office has excessive influence over key institutions.
• He specifically referenced appointments involving INEC, the police, the military and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Former Kogi State senator Dino Melaye has called for reforms to reduce the powers of the Nigerian president, arguing that the office has too much influence over major institutions.

Melaye made the remarks while discussing the structure of Nigeria’s political system and the concentration of executive powers in the presidency.

According to him, the president has a say in the appointment of officials heading several critical institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, the police, the military and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“President of Nigeria is the most powerful president in the world and that must change. He decides who’ll be the INEC Chairman, who’ll be the IG of police, who’ll be chief of army staff and also central bank Governor. There’s no president in the world with such power.”

Under Nigeria’s Constitution, the president appoints the chairman and members of bodies such as INEC, subject in the relevant cases to Senate confirmation and, for INEC, consultation with the Council of State.

The Armed Forces Act also provides for presidential appointment of service chiefs, subject to confirmation by the National Assembly.

The governor of the Central Bank is appointed by the president and the appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

Melaye’s comments have generated reactions online, with some Nigerians supporting calls for stronger checks on presidential authority while others compared Nigeria’s system with the powers exercised by presidents in other countries.

@AWholeSalmanPR: I support Dino on this one for the first time. Plenty Amendments need to be done on these excessive powers of the president. Also need to make the punishment for electoral crimes more than just fines but outright disqualification from the election.

@orphan_inn47280: That’s why I day fear say 2027 election nothing go fit remove Tinubu, na him boy’s him pack full power and they will work with him to remain in power

@kun_ejizzy: Na now him realize am?

@LekanSt: What about the US president? He decides who will be FBI Chief, CIA leader, can appoint Supreme Court Justices, can appoint and fires Army Chiefs, can pardon Federal Crimes no matter what crimes it is (can pardon himself to shield himself from prosecution)

@PopularEbube: He forgot to mention that the same President also appoints the referee, the linesman, and the VAR official for the entire country’s political league.

@junior_slo45968: It’s excessive power that’s choking them and making them to misbehave

@Chioma39334673: Na him dey decided everything

@Omarichachi_01: The JAGABAN of Africa 🌍 😂

@efiakpowore: It’s the system don’t hate the player hate the game