Melaye to Tinubu: Start Packing, ADC Will Take Over Presidential Villa in 2027

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

Melaye made the declaration during an interview with Arise TV on Monday, where he accused the Tinubu administration of failing to address hunger, insecurity, killings and other economic challenges confronting Nigerians.

The former senator expressed confidence in the ADC’s chances, saying the party’s path to victory was straightforward because Nigerians were increasingly dissatisfied with the current government.

According to him, Nigerians are “tired of maladministration,” borrowing and what he described as the failure to implement successive budgets effectively.

“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.

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He also alleged that despite the government securing loans to finance its budgets, some contractors had yet to receive payment for projects awarded years earlier.

Melaye claimed that contracts awarded in 2024 remained unpaid, while the government was still implementing the 2024 budget in 2026.

He further criticised the administration over the country’s economic and security situation, alleging that widespread hardship, insecurity, killings and corruption had created a disconnect between the government and the people.

“So I am telling you that this disenchantment, the hunger in the land, the insecurity in the land, the killings in the land, the stealing, 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 chieftain also accused the Tinubu administration of creating an atmosphere in which Nigerians were afraid of the government.

“But under 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 alleged.

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Melaye also criticised the President over comments he interpreted as suggesting that practices such as election rigging, violence and ballot snatching were acceptable in politics.

He argued that such remarks were inappropriate for a President who should provide leadership and serve as a role model to young Nigerians.

Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Melaye predicted a change of government and called on President Tinubu and his family to begin preparing to vacate the Presidential 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 (PDP) in July 2025 and joined the ADC. He had previously served as spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential campaign.

Since joining the ADC, Melaye has emerged as one of the party’s most outspoken figures, including in its legal and political battles with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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