The inclusion of the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, and the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Taminu Yakubu, in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election has drawn criticism from opposition figures.
Former Kogi West Senator and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Dino Melaye, has also threatened to challenge Adedeji’s appointment in court, citing concerns over conflict of interest and public service ethics.
The APC on Saturday unveiled its 108-member Presidential Campaign Council for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, with Tinubu as Chairman, Vice President Kashim Shettima as Vice Chairman I and APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, as Vice Chairman II.
Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari was appointed Director-General, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma became Secretary. Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun was named Director of Fundraising, with Adedeji as Deputy Director of Fundraising and Yakubu as Treasurer.
Reacting to the appointments, Melaye said the involvement of serving public officials in partisan campaign roles raised questions about their ability to maintain institutional neutrality.
Melaye, in a video posted on his official X account on Sunday, particularly questioned Adedeji’s appointment, noting that the NRS is responsible for collecting revenue for the country.
He argued that the appointment could create a conflict of interest and potentially violate provisions governing public service conduct.
“As a lawyer, by the grace of God, on Monday, I’m going to court. We have to test that,” Melaye said.
He maintained that Adedeji, as a serving public official, was expected to comply with public service rules and ethical standards.
Melaye also criticised the decision to appoint Tinubu as chairman of his own campaign council, describing it as unprecedented and “disgraceful.”
He questioned why the presidential candidate would simultaneously head the campaign council and suggested that the arrangement raised questions about confidence within the ruling party.
The former senator further described the 108-member council as “very, very, very bogus” and vowed to continue opposing Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Meanwhile, Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso, vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), also criticised the inclusion of Adedeji and Yakubu in the council.
Kwankwaso said their participation could undermine the perceived neutrality of the institutions they head, given their responsibilities for public revenue and national finances.
He argued that the leadership of critical public institutions requires neutrality, integrity and public confidence, questioning whether senior officials responsible for managing public resources should simultaneously occupy senior partisan campaign positions.
Kwankwaso said the composition of the campaign council should concern Nigerians, particularly against the backdrop of economic hardship, unemployment, insecurity and pressure on essential public services.
He also appealed to Yari to reconsider his decision to serve as Director-General of the campaign council, arguing that the former governor was familiar with the security and economic challenges confronting the North-West and the country.
Kwankwaso said he would be surprised if Yari, “in his good conscience,” chose to lead a campaign aimed at securing the continuation of a government under which many people in the region continue to face serious challenges.
He described the 2027 election as a contest between Nigerians experiencing hardship and those he accused of benefiting from the existing system.
Kwankwaso urged Nigerians to reject what he described as continued oppression and demand accountable and people-oriented governance.