Former Nigerian senator Dino Melaye has alleged that President Bola Tinubu does not want elections held in the coming year, linking the claim to what he described as mounting anxiety within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on Channels Television on Thursday, Melaye characterized recent political developments as evidence of shifting voter alignments. He pointed to a steady flow of members joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from other parties, suggesting the ruling bloc views the opposition as a formidable electoral challenger. Despite the APC’s current hold on thirty-two state governorships, Melaye argued that internal party communications reflect a preference for uncontested political transitions.
“They have seen the exodus of people from various political parties into the ADC and they are panicked,” Melaye stated. “It is not about ADC. It is about democracy. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wants to be coronated. He does not want an election. It is a Kabiyesi mentality.”
The remarks emerged shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) updated its official registry to remove David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from their listed positions as National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC. The commission confirmed it will not recognize internal factions or monitor conventions organized by groups affiliated with the former officials. Under Nigerian electoral law, INEC is authorized to engage exclusively with legally recognized party leadership, a framework established to maintain administrative consistency and enforce compliance during election cycles.
The regulatory stance is likely to shape the ADC’s leadership consolidation and strategic planning ahead of subsequent state and federal contests. Melaye’s statements add to ongoing public discourse regarding political fairness and opposition viability in Nigeria, with stakeholders monitoring how institutional oversight and party realignments will influence electoral participation and democratic processes across the country.
