Dino Melaye blasts Tinubu over his decision to chair his own 2027 campaign council, comparing the arrangement to a groom chairing his wedding reception
Former Kogi West Senator and African Democratic Congress, ADC, chieftain Dino Melaye has again criticised President Bola Tinubu over his decision to chair the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general election.
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Melaye made the latest criticism on Thursday, September 3, 2026, in a post on his verified Facebook page, where he questioned why a presidential candidate would also serve as chairman of the council campaigning for his re-election.
The former lawmaker compared the arrangement to a groom presiding over his own wedding reception.
“A presidential candidate chairing his own campaign council is like a groom chairing his own wedding reception,” Melaye said.
The criticism is not the first time Dino Melaye blasts Tinubu over the structure of the President’s campaign organisation.
In August, Melaye described Tinubu’s decision as unprecedented and “disgraceful”, arguing that a presidential candidate should not simultaneously occupy the chairmanship of his campaign council.
Tinubu recently constituted the APC’s Presidential Campaign Council as preparations intensify for the 2027 presidential election.
Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari was named Director-General of the council.
Melaye has also raised concerns about the inclusion of Zacch Adedeji, chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, as Deputy Director of Fundraising for Tinubu’s campaign.
The ADC chieftain has argued that Adedeji’s simultaneous role as a senior public revenue official and campaign fundraiser raises questions about a potential conflict of interest.
Melaye previously said he intended to challenge the appointment in court.
“What has happened actually shows the desperation of the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Melaye said in an earlier interview, while discussing the campaign council and Adedeji’s appointment.
The controversy comes as political parties begin to strengthen their structures ahead of the 2027 election, with Tinubu seeking a second term under the APC and opposition figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi positioning themselves for the contest.
Melaye, who joined the ADC after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party, has emerged as one of the opposition figures regularly challenging the Tinubu administration and its preparations for the next presidential election.
Beyond the campaign council, his criticism of the administration has increasingly focused on questions of political accountability, the use of public office and the relationship between government responsibilities and electoral politics.
For the APC, however, the formation of the campaign council is part of its preparations to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
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Melaye’s objections indicate that the structure of the ruling party’s campaign organisation is likely to remain a point of political contestation as the 2027 election approaches.
