2027: Melaye Vows To Sue Over Zacch Adedeji’s Role In Tinubu’s Campaign
A former Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has said he will challenge in court the appointment of the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, to the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election.
The chieftain of the African Democratic Congress in Kogi State also criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to chair the APC Presidential Campaign Council, describing the arrangement as “disgraceful” and questioning why the presidential candidate would also head his campaign council.
Melaye spoke in a video posted on his official X account on Sunday.
“This is the first time in the history of the universe and the entire world that a presidential candidate of a political party will double as the Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council for his own election,” he said.
He alleged that the arrangement showed a lack of confidence within the ruling party.
“It shows they are jittery, it shows they are afraid. It shows that Tinubu knows that even the governors in his kitty cannot be trusted. He knows that his ministers cannot be trusted. He knows that there will be an internal implosion within the APC,” he said.
Melaye also criticised the size and structure of the campaign council, describing it as “very, very, very bogus.”
He also questioned Adedeji’s appointment as Deputy Director of Fundraising in Tinubu’s campaign council, arguing that it could create a conflict of interest because of his role as head of the country’s revenue service.
“And the most important aspect of the list that was released by the APC is to see the Chairman of FIRS—the body that collects our revenue as a nation—the Chairman of FIRS is the Deputy Director or Deputy Chairman, or whatever it is, for fundraising for Tinubu’s presidential campaign.
“His name is there: Zacch, Chairman FIRS, as the Deputy Director in charge of fundraising of presidential campaign of Tinubu,” Melaye said.
He added, “And you are serving as the country’s Chairman of Nigerian Revenue Service, NRS, formally known as FIRS. Is there no conflict in this? As a lawyer, by the grace of God, on Monday, I’m going to court. We have to test that.”
Melaye argued that Adedeji, as a public servant, was expected to comply with the Public Service Rules.
“If that is not conflict of interest, I don’t know what else it would be. That a man who is a public servant, a man who is a salary earner, a man who is supposed to observe the provisions of the public ethics guidelines of Public Service Rules (PSR)—the man who is supposed to observe PSR is not just supporting Tinubu, he is a member of the Presidential Campaign Council, and he is the Deputy Director in charge of fundraising. And meanwhile, you are in charge of revenue collection of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Melaye vowed to continue opposing Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“But I will test that in court, and we will make sure that, by the special grace of God, the battle to stop Tinubu is a battle of no retreat, no surrender. We have never gotten this low in the history of this country. It’s a big shame, it’s a disgrace. Haba!” he said.
The APC released the list of members of its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council on Saturday, with Tinubu as chairman, Vice President Kashim Shettima 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 named Secretary.
The council’s published list names Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun as Director of Fundraising and Zacch Adedeji as Deputy Director of Fundraising
