ABUJA – Adding to the chorus of opposition fire, former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has claimed that President Bola Tinubu is not actually interested in running in the 2027 elections. Instead, Melaye argues the President is focused on ensuring that “no election even takes place” by systematically dismantling the opposition.
Speaking in a televised interview on Friday, Melaye accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of being “desperate” to achieve a total takeover of the Nigerian political space before the next general election cycle.
The “One-Party State” Agenda
Melaye’s claims align with the “lawlessness and intimidation” narrative currently rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition platforms:
- Neutralizing the Opposition: Melaye alleged that the harassment of governors by the EFCC—as cited by Bauchi’s Bala Mohammed—is a deliberate tactic to force a “merger by coercion” into the APC.
- The INEC Factor: He pointed to the recent de-listing of the David Mark-led ADC NWC as proof that the electoral umpire has been “weaponized” to ensure no viable alternative exists for the 2027 ballot.
- The “Desperation” of the APC: “The APC is desperate because they know they have failed the people,” Melaye stated. “They aren’t preparing for a contest; they are preparing for a coronation by destroying every other platform.”
Connecting the Dots
Melaye’s outburst follows a week of high-octane political drama:
- El-Rufai’s Impeachment Call: Just hours earlier, Nasir El-Rufai accused Tinubu of illegal ₦100 billion monthly deductions, labeling it an “impeachable offence.”
- ADC Defiance: Despite the “hijack” allegations from Nafiu Bala regarding a forged resignation, the ADC has vowed to ignore INEC and hold its congresses starting April 9.
- The “Ten-Minute” President: Melaye mocked the President’s recent Jos airport stopover, suggesting that a government that cannot provide “runway lights” for its own leader is only efficient at “extinguishing the lights of democracy.”
The “Elephant” Alternative
As the APC is accused of spending ₦11 billion on its convention while the nation groans, Melaye’s warning has fueled rumors of a massive opposition realignment. With the Peter Obi group already in “significant” talks with the Action Peoples Party (APP), Melaye’s “no election” warning is being seen as a rallying cry for the opposition to find a “litigation-free” house before the APC’s alleged “one-party” trap shuts tight.
The Presidency has yet to respond to Melaye’s specific claim that Tinubu wants to bypass the 2027 polls entirely, but the “impeachment” and “one-party state” buzzwords are now dominating the airwaves in Abuja.
