Former Senator Dino Melaye has said he will institute legal action against President Bola Tinubu over the appointment of the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, as Deputy Director of Fundraising for the President’s 2027 re-election campaign.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday unveiled members of its campaign council for the 2027 presidential election, with Adedeji listed among the officials.
The appointment has generated reactions, particularly over concerns about a possible conflict of interest arising from the involvement of the head of the agency responsible for revenue collection in a political campaign fundraising role.
Reacting in a video shared on his Facebook page, Melaye described the appointment as disturbing and said it should be subjected to judicial scrutiny.
“The most disturbing part of the list released by the APC is seeing the chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS), the body that collects our revenue, serving as Director in charge of fundraising for Tinubu’s presidential campaign,” he said.
Melaye, who identified himself as a lawyer, said he would approach the court on Monday to challenge the appointment.
“Is there no conflict in this? As a lawyer, by the grace of God, on Monday, I’m heading to court. We have to test that. If that is not a conflict of interest, then I don’t know what would be,” he said.
He questioned the propriety of a public official who earns a government salary and is expected to comply with public service rules taking an active role in fundraising for a presidential campaign.
“That a civil servant, a man who earns a salary and is supposed to adhere to public service rules, is not just supporting a presidential candidate but serving as Deputy Director in charge of fundraising,” Melaye added.
The controversy comes amid preparations by the APC for the 2027 presidential election, with the party beginning to constitute structures for President Tinubu’s re-election campaign.