A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dino Melaye, has urged President Bola Tinubu and members of his family to prepare to leave the Presidential Villa ahead of the 2027 general elections, expressing confidence that the opposition party would defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Melaye said the ADC was positioned to take over the government in 2027, arguing that growing dissatisfaction with the Tinubu administration would influence voters at the polls.

The former lawmaker and lawyer made the remarks during an interview with Arise TV on Monday.

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He said the ADC’s strategy for the 2027 election was straightforward, claiming that many Nigerians were dissatisfied with the current administration and wanted a change in 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,” Melaye said.

He also questioned the implementation of government budgets, alleging that despite borrowing to finance them, some government obligations remained unsettled.

“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 said.

Melaye further cited hunger, insecurity, killings and allegations of corruption as factors he claimed had widened the gap between the government and citizens.

“So I am telling you that this enchantment, 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.

He also criticised the Tinubu administration, alleging that Nigerians had become apprehensive about government policies and actions.

“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 said.

Melaye also accused the President of making remarks that, in his interpretation, suggested that electoral malpractice, violence and ballot snatching were acceptable in politics.

He argued that such comments would be inappropriate from a President who should serve as a role model to younger Nigerians.

“You have a president that have 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.

Melaye expressed confidence that the outcome of the 2027 election would result in a change of government, urging Tinubu and his family to prepare 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 left the Peoples Democratic Party in July 2025 and joined the ADC after previously serving as a spokesperson for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Since joining the ADC, Melaye has emerged as one of the party’s prominent voices, particularly on issues relating to the 2027 elections and the Independent National Electoral Commission.