I’ll Never Support Tinubu — Dino Melaye Gives 16 Reasons

Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has listed 16 reasons he said he will “never” support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Melaye, a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made his position known in a post on Instagram, where he criticised the Tinubu administration over the economy, insecurity, electricity, borrowing and other issues.

The former lawmaker defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ADC in July 2025. He had previously moved from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015 before returning to the PDP ahead of the 2019 elections.

In his post titled, “Why I Will Never Support Tinubu,” Melaye cited the following reasons:

1. He alleged that the price of petrol has increased by 500 per cent since Tinubu assumed office.
2. He criticised the cost of electricity, alleging that Nigerians are paying more despite continued power shortages.
3. Melaye claimed that Band A electricity customers who previously paid N68 per kilowatt-hour now pay about N225.
4. He cited rising food inflation, claiming Nigeria recorded its highest food inflation in 20 years in June 2024.
5. He claimed that 34 million Nigerians entered acute food insecurity in 2026, arguing that the figure exceeds the population of Ghana and several other countries.
6. Melaye questioned the Tinubu administration’s record on youth unemployment, recalling the President’s 2023 campaign promise to reduce youth unemployment by half.
7. He complained about the rising cost of air travel, claiming that a business-class flight between Lagos and Abuja that cost him about N180,000 in 2023 now costs approximately N720,000.
8. On insecurity, Melaye alleged that violence has spread beyond areas that were previously considered major hotspots, leaving the entire country affected.
9. He criticised Tinubu over comments on hunger and poverty, saying he could not support a president who, according to him, appeared dismissive of the hardship confronting Nigerians.
10. Melaye also took exception to Tinubu’s alleged statement that “all is fair in politics,” linking it to issues such as ballot snatching, violence, corruption, rigging, intimidation and alleged misuse of state institutions.
11. He accused the President of borrowing more than any previous Nigerian president without sufficient visible results.
12. Melaye criticised the administration over the conferment of a national honour on a Lebanese businessman, as well as a major infrastructure project allegedly awarded to the same businessman at a cost of N13 trillion.
13. He accused Tinubu of ethnic bias, describing the President as an “ethnic bigot.”
14. Melaye alleged that Tinubu demonstrated that he was stronger than Nigeria’s institutions when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was allegedly directed to withdraw an order concerning Osun State government bank accounts.
15. He raised questions about the President’s personal and family background, making several allegations about his identity, relatives and citizenship.
16. Finally, Melaye questioned Tinubu’s physical and medical fitness for office, describing him as a “vegetable president” and accusing him of embarrassing Nigeria during international engagements.