2027: We May Have a President Who Will Run Away – Dino Melaye Warns Against Rigging

Former federal lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye, has issued a stark warning that Nigeria could face political turmoil if the 2027 presidential election is manipulated in favour of President Bola Tinubu .

In a video posted on his Facebook page on Saturday, Melaye vowed that any attempt to rig the polls would be met with "vehement resistance" from the opposition .

"War Path" Warning

Melaye, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), expressed fear that electoral manipulation could push the country into a dangerous situation .

"My fear is very simple, that Tinubu may lead this country to a war path because he will try to rig but there will be vehement resistance," he said .

"At the end of the day, we may have a president who will run away because we are not backing down," he added .

"One Percent Oppressing 99 Percent"

The former Kogi West Senator accused Nigeria's political elite of sidelining the majority of citizens, claiming that those in power represent only a small fraction of the population .

"We are with the people and we will speak as a people. Those in power in this country, are less than one percent of the population," Melaye stated .

"It is an absurdity that one percent is oppressing 99 percent," he added .

Indonesia Reference

Melaye further declared that the opposition would prove that "what happened in Indonesia" is possible in Nigeria . While he did not provide specific details about the Indonesian reference, it is widely interpreted as a nod to mass resistance movements that successfully overturned political manipulation .

Context of Ongoing Opposition

This is not the first time Melaye has raised concerns about the integrity of the 2027 elections. In February 2026, he criticised the Senate's reported rejection of electronic transmission of election results, calling it "a clear endorsement of election rigging" .

He has also previously accused President Tinubu of seeking a "coronation" rather than a genuine democratic contest, describing the President as having "totalitarian" tendencies .

As of the time of reporting, the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had not issued an official response to Melaye's allegations.