Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Carmen Diego
Former Nigerian senator and opposition figure Dino Melaye has amplified an open letter addressed to King Charles III, urging the British monarch to cancel or postpone the planned state visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the United Kingdom, scheduled for March 18–19, 2026. The letter, shared on Melaye’s verified social media platforms, draws on broader concerns about Nigeria’s domestic challenges and the diplomatic implications of hosting Tinubu at the highest ceremonial level.
Melaye’s post does not appear to be a personal letter directly written by him, but instead shares an appeal composed by Kio Amachree, a Nigerian political scientist with familial ties to historical figures in Nigeria’s constitutional history. In publishing the letter, Melaye has effectively endorsed its contents as a formal appeal to the British Crown. The letter frames its request with deference to the monarchy while asserting that the current state of Nigeria makes a state visit inappropriate.
The open letter articulates a series of five main arguments urging cancellation or postponement, reflecting perceived political, security, economic and moral concerns in Nigeria:
The authors argue that Nigeria faces severe internal security threats, including terrorism, insurgency, kidnappings, banditry and broader lawlessness. They suggest that the country’s fragile state undermines the credibility of hosting a ceremonial visit, which, in their view, would signal denial of these crises rather than meaningful diplomatic engagement.
The letter asserts that President Tinubu’s leadership is mired in controversy, citing longstanding allegations of corruption, doubts over his public financial and academic records, and a belief among segments of the populace that Nigeria is governed by entrenched political interests rather than democratic processes. According to the letter, a state visit could be interpreted internationally as conferring undue legitimacy on his administration.
With Nigeria approaching its 2027 election cycle, the letter expresses concern that democratic norms are under strain, and that a high-profile diplomatic reception for Tinubu risked being seen as tacit acceptance of electoral conduct widely criticised by opposition figures.
The authors argue that a lavish state visit in the UK, where formal receptions are traditionally accompanied by ceremonial pomp, would appear insensitive at a time when many Nigerians are reportedly grappling with economic hardship, soaring inflation, unemployment and insecurity. They claim such optics could inflame public resentment both domestically and among the Nigerian diaspora.
The letter warns against Britain’s institutions being used as instruments of political endorsement, suggesting that the Crown should not provide symbolic backing to an administration they describe as controversial, lest it undermine international perceptions of impartiality and democratic values.
The planned state visit, as publicly announced by Buckingham Palace, is intended to reinforce historical ties between the United Kingdom and Nigeria, a Commonwealth partner with deep cultural and diplomatic links. It would be the first formal state visit by a Nigerian head of state to the UK in several decades and is expected to include ceremonial audiences with King Charles III, strategic dialogues on trade and investment, and engagements with the Nigerian diaspora in Britain. The Nigerian presidency and the UK government have not issued any official response to Melaye’s published appeal.
The discord over the visit reflects broader tensions within Nigeria’s political landscape. Since leaving the Peoples Democratic Party in 2025, Melaye has positioned himself as a vocal critic of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Tinubu’s administration, particularly on issues of governance, security and democratic accountability. Critics of the letter have argued on social media that appealing to foreign institutions to sanction a domestic head of state risks embarrassing Nigeria and exporting internal political struggles beyond national borders. Such responses highlight debates over the appropriateness of using diplomatic platforms to press domestic grievances.
Melaye’s amplification of the letter situates him in a faction of Nigerian politics that views external diplomatic gestures involving the current government as potentially legitimising what they consider flawed governance. The official Nigerian government narrative has largely focused on diplomatic continuity, economic cooperation and shared strategic interests with international partners, and it remains to be seen how authorities in Abuja or London will address the criticisms raised.
As it stands, the state visit plans remain announced and scheduled, and no statements from the British monarchy, the UK Foreign Office or the Nigerian presidency have indicated any intention to alter or cancel the engagement in response to public appeals from opposition figures.
If developments occur — such as formal responses from Buckingham Palace or conditional adjustments to the itinerary — those would represent significant shifts in diplomatic messaging between Abuja and London.
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