ABUJA — The political temperature in Northern Nigeria hit a boiling point on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, following vitriolic remarks attributed to former Senator and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Dino Melaye. In a sharp departure from standard political criticism, Melaye has reportedly turned his sights on the Northern electorate, issuing a chilling warning ahead of the next general election.
The controversial former lawmaker, known for his theatrical approach to politics, has stirred a hornet’s nest by suggesting that any continued Northern support for the President Bola Tinubu administration would be an act of collective self-sabotage.
The “Foolish and Cursed” Label
While Melaye has been a consistent critic of the “Renewed Hope” agenda, his latest rhetoric has taken a deeply personal and ethnic turn. In statements widely circulated across political circles, Melaye allegedly characterized any Northerner planning to vote for the incumbent in 2027 in the harshest possible terms.
“Only a foolish, cursed Northerner would vote for Tinubu in 2027,” Melaye reportedly stated, pointing to the record-high inflation and the deteriorating security situation in the region as justification for his stance.
Melaye argued that the North has gained “nothing but hunger and insecurity” since the 2023 transition, claiming the region is being used as a “voting tool” without corresponding federal protection or development.
“The Activism of the Sidelined”—Nigerians Fire Back
As expected, Melaye’s comments have triggered an explosion of debate. While some agree that the North is suffering, many Nigerians have blasted the Senator for using “toxic and divisive” language that borders on ethnic bigotry.
- “Playing the Ethnic Card”:Â “Dino Melaye is a merchant of division,” remarked Ibrahim Dan-Musa, a political analyst in Kaduna. “To call an entire region ‘cursed’ because of their political choice is a new low. We should be talking about policies, not throwing curses at voters.”
- “Selective Bravery”: Many on social media were quick to remind Melaye of his own history. “This is the same Dino who was dancing for the APC just a few years ago,” one popular post on X (formerly Twitter) read. “Now that he is out of the loop, he has discovered the North is ‘cursed.’ It’s the activism of a man who lost his seat.”
- “A Distraction from the Real Issue”: Critics argue such language only distracts from the controversial 2026 Electoral Act signed into law today. “While Dino is busy cursing people, the Senate just passed a bill that makes electronic transmission optional. That is the real ‘curse’ we should be fighting,” a resident of Abuja noted.
The ADC “Mega” Strategy
The timing of Melaye’s outburst is seen by many as a calculated move to solidify the ADC’s position as the primary alternative for Northern voters. With heavyweights like Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai reportedly aligning with the party, Melaye appears to be leading the “verbal offensive” to decouple the North from the APC’s influence.
As of Wednesday night, the APC National Secretariat has not issued a formal rebuttal, but the “war of words” suggests the 2027 campaign will be fought on the most sensitive grounds: ethnic identity and the “politics of the stomach.”
