Start Packing Your Bags’ — Melaye Warns Tinubu Ahead of 2027 Election

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dino Melaye, has declared that the party will defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections, urging President Bola Tinubu and his family to prepare to leave the Presidential Villa.

Melaye made the remarks during an interview with Arise TV on Monday, where he expressed confidence in the ADC’s chances of unseating the APC.

According to the former senator, the party’s path to victory was straightforward, arguing that many Nigerians were dissatisfied with the Tinubu administration and eager for a change of government.

“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,” he said.

Melaye also questioned the government’s handling of its budgets, alleging that contracts awarded in 2024 remained unpaid despite the government’s borrowing to finance its spending plans.

“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 alleged.

The ADC chieftain further criticised the administration over the country’s security situation, rising hardship, killings and what he described as widespread corruption.

He argued that these challenges had widened the gap between the government and the people, insisting that Nigerians would have the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction through the ballot box in 2027.

Melaye also accused the Tinubu administration of creating an atmosphere in which Nigerians were more fearful of the government than the government was concerned about public opinion.

He further criticised what he described as comments by the President suggesting that acts such as electoral violence, rigging and ballot snatching could be considered acceptable in politics.

According to Melaye, such remarks were unbecoming of a President and could send the wrong message to young Nigerians.

Looking ahead to the 2027 election, Melaye predicted a change of government and issued a direct message to the President and his family.

“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 left the Peoples Democratic Party in July 2025 and joined the ADC. He had previously served as spokesperson for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Since joining the ADC, Melaye has emerged as one of the party’s most outspoken figures, including taking part in legal challenges and public disputes involving the Independent National Electoral Commission.