Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has announced plans to challenge in court the appointment of the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, as Deputy Director of Fundraising in the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
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Melaye, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress in Kogi State, argued that Adedeji’s involvement in campaign fundraising while simultaneously heading the federal agency responsible for revenue collection raises questions of conflict of interest and compliance with public service ethics.
Speaking in a video posted on his official X account on Sunday, Melaye said he intended to approach the court to test the legality and propriety of the appointment.
He also criticised the decision to make Tinubu Chairman of his own Presidential Campaign Council, describing the arrangement as unusual and questioning why the presidential candidate would simultaneously head the body responsible for prosecuting his campaign.
“This is the first time in the history of the universe and the entire world that a presidential candidate of a political party will double as the Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council for his own election,” Melaye said.
He claimed that the composition of the council reflected apprehension within the ruling party and suggested that Tinubu lacked confidence in some party leaders.
“It shows they are jittery, it shows they are afraid. It shows that Tinubu knows that even the governors in his kitty cannot be trusted. He knows that his ministers cannot be trusted. He knows that there will be an internal implosion within the APC,” he said.
Melaye also described the size and structure of the council as “very, very, very bogus.”
His strongest objection, however, centred on the inclusion of Adedeji in the fundraising directorate.
The APC campaign council list names Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, as Director of Fundraising, while Adedeji was appointed Deputy Director of Fundraising.
Melaye argued that Adedeji’s position as head of the Nigeria Revenue Service, which succeeded the Federal Inland Revenue Service, places him in a sensitive public office involving the collection and administration of federal revenue.
“And the most important aspect of the list that was released by the APC is to see the Chairman of FIRS — the body that collects our revenue as a nation — the Chairman of FIRS is the Deputy Director or Deputy Chairman, or whatever it is, for fundraising for Tinubu’s presidential campaign,” he said.
“His name is there: Zacch, Chairman FIRS, as the Deputy Director in charge of fundraising of presidential campaign of Tinubu.”
Melaye said the arrangement deserved judicial scrutiny.
“And you are serving as the country’s Chairman of Nigerian Revenue Service, NRS, formally known as FIRS. Is there no conflict in this? As a lawyer, by the grace of God, on Monday, I’m going to court. We have to test that,” he said.
He further argued that Adedeji, as a public office holder and salary earner, was expected to comply with applicable public service ethics and rules governing political activity and conflicts of interest.
“If that is not conflict of interest, I don’t know what else it would be,” Melaye said.
“That a man who is a public servant, a man who is a salary earner, a man who is supposed to observe the provisions of the public ethics guidelines of Public Service Rules — the man who is supposed to observe PSR is not just supporting Tinubu, he is a member of the Presidential Campaign Council, and he is the Deputy Director in charge of fundraising.
“And meanwhile, you are in charge of revenue collection of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Melaye did not, in the remarks provided, identify the particular statutory provision or Public Service Rule he intends to rely upon in court. His assertion that the appointment constitutes an unlawful conflict of interest therefore remains a legal position he says he intends to test judicially.
He also vowed to continue opposing Tinubu’s re-election.
“But I will test that in court, and we will make sure that, by the special grace of God, the battle to stop Tinubu is a battle of no retreat, no surrender,” he said.
“We have never gotten this low in the history of this country. It’s a big shame, it’s a disgrace. Haba!”
The APC had on Saturday released the membership of its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, with Tinubu named Chairman.
Vice President Kashim Shettima was appointed Vice Chairman I, while APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda was named Vice Chairman II.
Former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, was appointed Director-General of the campaign council, while Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, was named Secretary.
In the fundraising directorate, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun was named Director, with Adedeji serving as Deputy Director.
Melaye’s proposed legal action is therefore expected to focus principally on whether Adedeji’s position as Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service is legally compatible with a formal role in the fundraising machinery of a partisan presidential campaign, and whether his appointment offends any applicable public service, ethical or conflict-of-interest provisions.
No court has yet determined that Adedeji’s appointment is unlawful, and the concerns raised by Melaye remain allegations and legal arguments pending any suit and judicial determination.
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