Dino Melaye, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, has encouraged President Bola Tinubu and members of his family to begin packing their possessions from the Presidential Villa.
He declared that the ADC would beat the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general election.
Melaye predicted that the election results would reflect Nigerians’ rising displeasure with the Tinubu administration, which he accused of failing to address hunger, insecurity, and other concerns facing the country.
On Monday, the former senator and lawyer gave an interview to Arise TV.
He voiced confidence in the ADC’s chances, claiming that the party’s winning approach was simple because Nigerians were 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,” Melaye said.
He alleged that despite the government borrowing money to fund its budgets, several contracts awarded by the government remained unpaid.
“For example, you say you borrowed money to run the budget. You have borrowed the money. You have collected the money. But the budget has not been run.
“The budget has not been funded. Contracts awarded in 2024 have not been paid for. You are still implementing the 2024 budget in 2026,” he said.
Melaye stated that the hardship, insecurity, killings, and alleged corruption in the country had created a disconnect between Nigerians and the government.
He insisted that Nigerians were following events in the country and would express their displeasure through the ballot.
“So I am telling you that this enchantment, the hunger in the land, the insecurity in the land, the killings in the land, and the stealing, the overstealing that is going on in the land, already have shown and demonstrated that there is a complete disconnect between the people and government,” he said.
The ADC leader also criticized the Tinubu administration, claiming that Nigerians were now terrified of the government rather than the government being concerned about the people’s reactions.
“But under the Tinubu administration, people are afraid of government because they are so brazen, they are so wicked, they are so nonchalant, they don’t give a damn,” he said.
Melaye also accused the president of making comments suggesting that election rigging, violence, and ballot snatching were acceptable in politics.
He stated that such statements were inappropriate for a president who should serve as a role model to young Nigerians.
“You have a president that has come out on air to tell the whole world that all is fair in politics. Rigging is fair in politics. Violence is fair in politics. Ballot snatching is fair in politics,” he said.
Melaye prophesied that the 2027 election will result in a change of administration and advised the president and his family to prepare to depart the Villa.
“And I’m telling you that the results will tell in January. 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 said.
Melaye resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party in July 2025 to join the ADC, having previously served as spokesperson for the party’s 2023 presidential nominee, Atiku Abubakar.
He has since been one of the most prominent individuals in the ADC, initiating legal challenges on behalf of the party and publicly battling with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
