2027: Dino Melaye heads to court over NRS chairman’s role in Tinubu campaign team

Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has announced plans to approach the court over the appointment of Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) Executive Chairman Zacch Adedeji as Deputy Director of Fundraising in President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign council.

Melaye argued that Adedeji’s position as the head of Nigeria’s revenue-collecting agency raises serious questions about his participation in a partisan campaign organisation, particularly because the fundraising role involves mobilising financial support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The former senator, who is now a prominent member of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), disclosed his plan in a video shared on his Facebook page.

He said he would commence legal proceedings on Monday, August 24, to challenge what he described as a potential conflict of interest involving the NRS chairman.

“The most disturbing part of the list released by the APC is seeing the chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service, the body that collects our revenue, serving as Deputy Director in charge of fundraising for Tinubu’s presidential campaign,” Melaye said.

“Is there no conflict in this? As a lawyer, by the grace of God, on Monday, I’m heading to court. We have to test that. If that is not a conflict of interest, then I don’t know what would be.”

Melaye further argued that Adedeji is a public official who receives a government salary and is expected to comply with the rules governing public service.

He questioned how a serving head of a federal revenue agency could simultaneously occupy a senior political position in a presidential campaign structure.

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“That a civil servant, a man who earns a salary and is supposed to adhere to public service rules, is not just supporting a presidential candidate but serving as Deputy Director in charge of fundraising,” he added.

The controversy followed the unveiling of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election.

Under the structure announced by the ruling party, President Bola Tinubu is the chairman of the campaign council, while Vice President Kashim Shettima serves as Vice Chairman I and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda as Vice Chairman II.

Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari was named Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was appointed Secretary.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun was named Director of Fundraising, with Adedeji appointed Deputy Director of Fundraising.

Other senior figures were also given responsibilities across mobilisation, administration, election planning, logistics, parliamentary mobilisation and other areas of the campaign.

The APC has presented the structure as part of its preparations to secure victory for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Melaye, however, has criticised both the composition of the council and Tinubu’s decision to serve as chairman of his own re-election campaign structure.

He questioned the size of the campaign council and argued that the arrangement raised concerns about how the ruling party was organising its campaign ahead of the election.

His planned lawsuit, however, is specifically focused on the role of the NRS chairman in the campaign fundraising structure.

The proposed legal action could bring renewed attention to the rules governing the participation of serving public officials in partisan political activities.

The legal question will ultimately depend on the specific provisions Melaye relies upon and the interpretation placed on those provisions by the court if the suit is formally filed.

ADC attacks Tinubu campaign council

The controversy over Adedeji’s appointment comes alongside a separate criticism of the campaign council by the African Democratic Congress.

The opposition party accused the APC of using the campaign structure to provide political rehabilitation for individuals who, according to the ADC, still face unresolved questions relating to allegations of corruption and financial misconduct.

The party specifically questioned the inclusion of former Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu and former Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund chairman Ngozi Olejeme.

ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said the government should explain the status of previous investigations involving the two former officials if they had been cleared of wrongdoing.

“If they have been cleared, the government should show how and when and by whom they were cleared,” Abdullahi said.

The opposition party argued that Nigerians deserved transparency regarding the outcome of corruption investigations before individuals previously associated with such controversies returned to prominent political positions.

The ADC alleged that some financial-crime investigations under the Tinubu administration had gradually disappeared from public attention before some of the individuals involved resurfaced in political activities.

The party said political usefulness should not replace accountability, particularly where allegations involving public funds had previously been raised.

ADC says 2027 election will test Tinubu’s record

The ADC also argued that the 2027 presidential election would be a referendum on Tinubu’s record since taking office in May 2023.

The opposition party said political mobilisation and campaign appointments would not erase the economic challenges facing Nigerians.

It pointed to concerns over the cost of living, inflation, food prices, transportation costs and household economic pressure, arguing that voters would ultimately judge the administration on its performance.

The party also renewed its call for measures aimed at cushioning the impact of economic reforms on Nigerians, including a targeted and controlled intervention on fuel prices.

The ADC proposed that any such intervention should have a clear spending limit, budgetary backing and independent auditing to ensure transparency.

The opposition party maintained that the 2027 election would therefore be fought not only around political alliances and campaign structures but also around governance, accountability and economic performance.

Melaye’s legal threat adds to growing 2027 contest

Melaye’s proposed court action introduces a legal dimension to the growing political contest ahead of the 2027 general election.

At the centre of the dispute is whether a serving head of a federal revenue agency can simultaneously perform a senior role in the campaign organisation of a presidential candidate, particularly one involving fundraising.

Melaye has said he intends to ask the court to determine whether the arrangement is compatible with the rules governing public officials.

As of Sunday, August 23, there was no indication that a court had already ruled on the matter. Melaye’s comments therefore amount to an announcement of planned legal action, rather than confirmation of a concluded court case.

The controversy is expected to attract further attention as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 election and opposition groups increase scrutiny of the APC’s campaign structure.

For now, the APC has unveiled its campaign machinery, while Melaye has promised to test the legality of Adedeji’s appointment in court.

The dispute over the NRS chairman’s campaign role is likely to become part of the wider debate over public-sector neutrality, political participation by serving officials and the boundaries between government responsibilities and partisan electioneering ahead of 2027.

2027: Dino Melaye heads to court over NRS chairman’s role in Tinubu campaign team

2027: Wike explains why he won’t join Tinubu’s campaign council

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has explained why he will not seek a prominent position in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign, saying his priority is to deliver tangible results rather than pursue campaign titles.

Wike said he would have declined the position of Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council if it had been offered to him, stressing that he is not a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former Rivers State governor spoke on Saturday while inspecting ongoing FCT infrastructure projects, including the Apo-Karshi Road and Bwari-Kubwa Road.

His comments came shortly after the Presidency announced the composition of the APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election, with former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, named as Director-General and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, appointed secretary.

President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima are expected to serve as chairman and vice chairman of the campaign council respectively.

Wike said occupying a senior position in a presidential campaign should not be regarded as proof of political influence or electoral success.

According to him, what matters is whether campaign leaders can mobilise voters and deliver their respective states to their presidential candidates on election day.

“I am not a member of the APC. So the issue of their Presidential Campaign Council is out of the question,” Wike said.

He cited the experiences of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong to support his argument.

Wike recalled that Amaechi served as Director-General of Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 presidential campaign while he was Rivers State governor, but Buhari lost Rivers State.

He also referred to the 2019 election, when Amaechi again played a prominent role in Buhari’s campaign, arguing that Rivers State still did not deliver the expected result.

Wike said Saraki, who led Atiku Abubakar’s 2019 presidential campaign, also lost Kwara State, while Tambuwal, who served as Atiku’s campaign DG in 2023, lost Sokoto State.

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He further cited Lalong, who headed Tinubu’s 2023 campaign, as another example of a campaign leader whose home state did not produce the desired result for the presidential candidate.

“I don’t want to lose my state. I will be in my state. I have two states, FCT and Rivers State. What’s important is, are you able to deliver those two states?” Wike said.

The FCT minister maintained that his support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid does not require him to hold an official position in the APC campaign structure.

He recalled that he and other politicians who supported Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election were not members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.

Wike also referred to the political alliance known as the Rainbow Coalition, which brings together politicians from different political backgrounds who support Tinubu while retaining their membership of their respective parties.

He said the coalition was already active in states including Rivers, Kwara, Bayelsa, Osun and Benue.

Rather than focusing on campaign titles, Wike said his priority was to use his position as FCT minister to complete major infrastructure projects and demonstrate the impact of government policies.

“Campaign is what have you done for the people? What has the government got to show? It’s not about promises. It’s about showing action,” he said.

Wike disclosed that the FCT Administration was targeting the completion of more than 10 major projects before the 2027 elections, adding that the number could increase depending on the pace of work.

During the inspection, he expressed confidence that the Apo-Karshi Road project would be completed within the timeline given by the contractor.

The road project, which has been in development for several years, is expected to improve connectivity between communities along the Apo-Karshi corridor and ease movement in the Federal Capital Territory.

Wike also inspected the Bwari-Kubwa Road, another major FCT project, and said the contractor had assured the administration that the road would be completed and handed over by December.

The minister said the administration would also publish details of projects inherited from previous governments alongside those awarded under the current administration.

According to Wike, the publication would cover projects inherited from administrations dating back to Olusegun Obasanjo, as well as those of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.

He said Nigerians would then be able to compare inherited projects with those initiated and completed by the current FCT Administration.

Beyond infrastructure, Wike announced tougher enforcement of regulations governing commercial transportation in Abuja.

He warned taxi drivers and other commercial operators against picking up passengers outside designated bus terminals, saying vehicles used in violation of the rules could be impounded.

The minister also disclosed that the FCT Administration had begun reclaiming green areas and public spaces allegedly converted to car dealerships and other commercial activities.

Wike said a task force had been established to recover the affected areas, alleging that some allocation documents had been issued for spaces originally designated as parks and green areas.

He warned operators occupying such spaces to vacate them or face enforcement action, including possible seizure of vehicles.

Wike clarified that approvals for buildings and other developments in the FCT are handled by relevant departments and agencies of the administration rather than personally by the minister.

He said affected operators would be given time to comply before enforcement measures are implemented.

Wike’s position means he is set to remain outside the formal APC 2027 campaign council despite his continued support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

His comments also reinforce his stated strategy of concentrating on delivering electoral support in Rivers State and the FCT, rather than seeking a formal campaign position.

For Wike, political success should ultimately be judged by electoral results, completed projects and measurable impact on citizens, rather than by the title or position held within a presidential campaign organisation.

2027: Wike explains why he won’t join Tinubu’s campaign council