APC chieftain to DSS: Scrutinise Dino Melaye’s statements

By Christopher Ameh, Bauchi An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and loyalist of President Bola Tinubu, Khamis Musa Darazo, has urged the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to scrutinise recent statements attributed to former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, concerning the 2027 general elections. Darazo, who made the call while speaking with journalists in Bauchi on Thursday, said the move was necessary to safeguard national security and prevent political utterances capable of heightening tension or creating unnecessary apprehension among Nigerians.

He, however, cautioned that his call should not be interpreted as an attempt to intimidate opposition politicians or suppress democratic freedoms, stressing that democracy accommodates criticism, disagreement and healthy political competition. According to him, political leaders must recognise the responsibility that comes with public statements, particularly as the country approaches another election cycle.

“This is not about persecution, intimidation or silencing the opposition. It is about responsibility. If a statement made by a prominent political actor has generated legitimate security concerns, the authorities have every right to seek clarification and establish the facts,” he said. Darazo maintained that security agencies must apply the law fairly, irrespective of political affiliation, warning against the use of national security as a partisan instrument.

He also urged Melaye and other political leaders to exercise restraint in their public statements, saying Nigeria could not afford another atmosphere of political tension, fear and confrontation ahead of the 2027 elections. “Political disagreement is normal in a democracy. What is unacceptable is allowing political competition to gradually become a source of tension among citizens.

We should sell our ideas, present our records and persuade Nigerians rather than create unnecessary anxiety,” he added. The APC chieftain challenged opposition politicians to focus their campaigns on policies, programmes, leadership capacity and verifiable records rather than provocative statements capable of distracting attention from issues affecting Nigerians.

He said supporters of President Tinubu were prepared for the 2027 political contest and would continue to defend the administration based on its policies, achievements and Renewed Hope Agenda. “We are not afraid of opposition. We welcome competition. But competition must be democratic, peaceful and issue-based. President Tinubu will be judged by Nigerians based on his record, just as every opposition politician will be judged by the people based on what they offer,” Darazo said.

He called on the DSS and other relevant security institutions to remain professional, impartial and guided by the law in handling politically sensitive matters. He further urged political actors across party lines to place the country’s peace, unity and democratic stability above personal and partisan interests. “The 2027 election should be a contest for the confidence of Nigerians, not a contest that puts the peace of Nigeria at risk.

We can disagree politically without becoming enemies of the Nigerian state,” he said.