Dino Melaye Vows to Defeat Tinubu in Fair Election

ABUJA, Nigeria – Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has declared he would defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in any free and fair election.

NaijaChoice News reports that the former lawmaker made the claim during a wide-ranging interview on the Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, which dropped on Sunday. Melaye used the platform to criticise the current administration’s performance while stressing that his main goal remains unseating the president.

“Anybody among those interested in presidency in ADC would do one million times better than Tinubu,” he said. He insisted no one from the African Democratic Congress platform could be worse than the incumbent.

Melaye went personal with his confidence. “Me, Dino Melaye. Let’s go on a free and fair election. I will beat him flat… in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he told the host.

Yet the senator quickly clarified that personal ambition is not his priority now. He said his focus is simply to “send Tinubu away” and that he will back whoever emerges as the coalition candidate through consensus or primary.

Melaye warned that the president may not welcome a level playing field. He accused Tinubu of wanting to rule like a “Kabiyesi” or “Igwe” and vowed that Nigerians would force a credible poll if necessary.

He dismissed debates over joint tickets, saying the opposition is united only by the need to rescue the country from bad governance.

The former senator also raised fresh concerns about the role of unelected figures in government. He singled out the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu, alleging that the young man summons ministers and heads of agencies. Melaye pointed to the City Boy Movement and noted that even Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka had publicly complained about such influence.

As 2027 draws nearer, Melaye said opposition leaders are already working together across party lines. He described the ADC coalition as ready with multiple strategies to challenge the ruling party at the polls.