Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress and former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has issued a blunt and provocative warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and members of his family, urging them to begin packing their belongings from the Presidential Villa ahead of the 2027 general elections. Melaye expressed confidence that the ADC and other opposition forces would defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress at the polls, arguing that widespread dissatisfaction with the Tinubu administration would drive Nigerians to demand a change of government. The former lawmaker made the remarks during an interview with Arise TV on Monday, August 24, 2026, where he outlined the opposition's strategy and criticised the government's handling of the economy, security and public finances.
In a direct and unflinching address to the President, Melaye declared, “The president and his family members should begin to pack their luggage and things from the villa, including those in the boys’ quarters of the villa, because there will be a change of government”. He insisted that the outcome of the election would reflect Nigerians' growing frustration with the administration, which he accused of failing to address hunger, insecurity, rising hardship and what he described as poor governance.
Melaye argued that the ADC’s winning strategy was straightforward because, according to him, many Nigerians were already eager for a change of leadership. “The winning strategy for the ADC is very simple. The people are with us. The people are tired of maladministration. They are tired of lies. They are tired of borrowing. They are tired of three budgets in three successions not being implemented,” he said. He alleged that despite the government borrowing money to fund its budgets, several contracts awarded by the government remained unpaid, claiming that the 2024 budget was still being implemented in 2026.
The ADC chieftain accused the Tinubu administration of fostering a dangerous disconnect between the government and the governed. “So I am telling you that this enchantment, the hunger in the land, the insecurity in the land, the killings in the land, the stealing, overstealing that is going on in the land already have shown and demonstrated that there is a complete disconnect between the people and government,” Melaye said. He also criticised the President for comments he interpreted as suggesting that electoral malpractice, violence and ballot snatching were acceptable in politics, arguing that such statements were inappropriate for a head of state who should serve as a role model to younger Nigerians.
Melaye also revealed that opposition parties were in ongoing discussions to form a broad coalition capable of defeating Tinubu and the APC in 2027. He noted that other opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Donald Duke, were part of the conversations. “By the grace of God, we will have a headway shortly. Discussions are ongoing, and the opposition will work together. We may not get 100% of everybody on board, but the majority of the opposition will come together and send Tinubu and the APC packing. You can take that from me: their days are numbered,” he declared.
Melaye dismissed the APC's political machinery and nationwide network of governors, legislators and party structures, arguing that Nigerians had already decided to vote out the APC. He attributed the sentiment to widespread hunger and insecurity, and alleged that some governors were reluctant to openly campaign for Tinubu, insisting that the president was facing defeat in 2027. Speaking on the ADC's preparedness for the election, Melaye said the party was relying on public support rather than government officials and political machinery. He claimed the party had mobilised voters nationwide and argued that the widespread dissatisfaction with the Tinubu administration would translate into electoral defeat for the APC.
Melaye’s remarks come as political parties and opposition groups intensify preparations for the 2027 presidential election. He left the Peoples Democratic Party in July 2025 to join the ADC, after previously serving as a spokesperson for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Since joining the ADC, Melaye has emerged as one of the party’s most prominent and vocal figures, initiating legal challenges on behalf of the party and publicly battling with the Independent National Electoral Commission. His latest comments are likely to further intensify the political battle between the ruling APC and opposition groups as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum. With the ADC positioning itself as a major opposition platform, Melaye’s call for Tinubu and his family to “start packing” has added a provocative and confrontational dimension to the emerging contest for control of Aso Rock.
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