Dino Melaye Threatens Protest Over Tinubu's Powers

What happens when Nigerians begin to question whether those elected to protect democracy are doing enough to hold the government accountable? Former senator Dino Melaye has raised that question, issuing a 14-day ultimatum to the National Assembly and threatening mass protest if lawmakers fail to act on his demands.

Melaye, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), announced plans for an “Occupy National Assembly” protest if lawmakers fail to demonstrate greater independence from President Bola Tinubu’s administration within the deadline. He made the declaration during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

The former Kogi West senator accused the 10th National Assembly of failing to exercise sufficient oversight over the executive arm of government. He specifically challenged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to demonstrate that parliament remains independent in handling matters of national importance.

Why Melaye Is Raising the Alarm

Melaye’s concerns cover electoral reforms, budget implementation, constitutional procedures and decisions involving presidential powers.

He cited the July 2024 amendment to the Nigeria Police Act, which changed the rules governing how long an Inspector-General of Police could remain in office. He questioned why the legislation passed through all three readings in both chambers on the same day, arguing that lawmakers should provide thorough scrutiny of executive proposals.

He also criticised the National Assembly’s handling of the state of emergency declared in Rivers State in March 2025, questioning whether the approval process sufficiently demonstrated compliance with constitutional voting requirements. These remain Melaye’s criticisms of the legislature’s actions, rather than a judicial determination that the procedures were unlawful.

The ADC chieftain further expressed concern about a proposal for a single six-year tenure for presidents and governors, calling for clarity on how any constitutional amendment would affect incumbents and future officeholders.

Will the Protest Happen?

Melaye insists that cooperation between the executive and legislature must not undermine parliamentary independence. He warned that failure to address his concerns within 14 days would trigger plans to mobilise Nigerians for the proposed protest.

However, the key question remains whether the National Assembly will respond to his demands before the deadline expires.

Do you believe the National Assembly is exercising enough independence in holding the President accountable, or should lawmakers do more to strengthen democratic checks and balances?