By Taofeek Lawal
Senator Dino Melaye, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has said the economic hardship, insecurity and growing disenchantment among Nigerians will work against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
Melaye said Nigerians were tired of what he described as maladministration, rising hardship and policies that had widened the gap between government and the people.
According to him, the opposition does not need to rely solely on political structures to defeat the APC, arguing that Nigerians themselves have become sufficiently disillusioned with the present administration.
“The winning strategy for the ADC is very simple. The people are with us. The people are tired of maladministration. They are tired of lies. They are tired of borrowing.”
He also criticised the alleged failure to fully implement successive budgets, saying government spending had failed to translate into meaningful relief for Nigerians.
“You are still implementing the 2024 budget in 2026,” he said, arguing that contracts awarded in 2024 had not been fully paid for.
Melaye linked the political mood ahead of 2027 to what he described as widespread hunger, insecurity and killings across the country.
“The disenchantment, the hunger in the land, the insecurity in the land, the killings in the land, the stealing, obvious stealing—that is going on in the land have already shown and demonstrated that there is a complete disconnect between the people and government.”
The ADC chieftain further argued that the hardship confronting Nigerians was more politically significant than the size or financial strength of the APC campaign machinery.
“The election is about the people. It is not about the bureaucracy that is involved in managing the election,” he said.
Melaye maintained that Nigerians were already waiting for an opportunity to vote against the ruling party.
“People are already waiting to go out there and vote out the APC because the situation is outrageously calamitous.”
He said the opposition was working to consolidate its support ahead of 2027, insisting that the ultimate determinant of the election would be the electorate.
“We can feel the electoral pulse of the people across the country. We can feel the disenchantment and disillusionment of the people across the country.”
