A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Dino Melaye, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and members of his family to begin preparing to leave the Aso Rock Presidential Villa ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Melaye made the remark on Monday while appearing as a guest on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where he criticised the Tinubu administration over what he described as its failure to address the challenges confronting Nigerians.
The former lawmaker said there was a significant disconnect between the Federal Government and citizens, citing hunger, insecurity, killings and corruption as evidence.
He expressed confidence that the ADC would defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that Nigerians were ready for a change of government.
“The president and his family members should begin to pack their luggage from the Aso Rock Villa, including those in the Boys’ Quarters,” Melaye said.
He added, “The results will tell in January because there will be a change of government in 2027.”
According to Melaye, the ADC’s strategy ahead of the election would be centred on mobilising Nigerians who, he claimed, had become dissatisfied with the current administration.
“The winning strategy for the ADC is very simple. The people are with us. The people are tired of maladministration, lies, borrowing, three budgets and three successions not being implemented,” he said.
Melaye also criticised the government’s budget implementation, alleging that funds borrowed for budget execution had not translated into the completion of projects and payment of contractors.
“For example, you say you borrowed money to run the budget. You have borrowed the money. You have collected the money, but the budget is not being implemented.
“The budget is not being funded. Contracts awarded in 2024 have not been paid for. You are still implementing the 2024 budget in 2026,” he alleged.
The ADC chieftain argued that the prevailing economic hardship had made Nigerians increasingly dissatisfied with the government.
“The people in this country have blood flowing through their veins and not kerosene, so they respond to stimuli,” he said.
He maintained that widespread hardship, insecurity and alleged corruption had demonstrated what he described as a complete disconnect between the government and the people.
“I am telling you that this disenchantment, the hunger, insecurity, killings, stealing and obvious stealing that is going on in the land have already shown and demonstrated that there is a complete disconnect between the people and the government,” Melaye said.
He further compared the Tinubu administration with previous governments, arguing that Nigerians were now increasingly afraid of the government.
“From former President Muhammadu Buhari downwards, the government is always afraid of the people when they want to take decisions. But under the Tinubu administration, people are afraid of the government because they are so brazen, wicked, nonchalant and don’t give a damn,” he stated.
Melaye also criticised President Tinubu over his reported comments that “all is fair in politics,” arguing that statements from a sitting president could influence the conduct of political actors and citizens.
“You have a president who 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.
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He questioned the example being set for young Nigerians and future generations by such political rhetoric.
“You are a president. You are supposed to be a mentor. The words of presidents are supposed to be quotations on a daily basis,” Melaye said.
He also referenced the President’s previous political slogan, “Take it, grab it and run away with it,” while questioning whether Nigerians were unaware of developments in the political space.
“You think the people are not watching?” he asked.
Melaye concluded by expressing confidence that the outcome of the 2027 election would reflect what he described as growing public dissatisfaction with the current administration.
“And I am telling you that the results will tell in January 2027,” he said.
His comments come as political parties and opposition coalitions intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the ADC positioning itself as one of the major platforms seeking to challenge the APC at the federal level.