Adedeji’s Role: Political Appointment Does Not Automatically Bar Participation In A Campaign Committee | Rasheed Oyebisi
The attention of the South-West Unity Forum has been drawn to reports that former Senator Dino Melaye intends to challenge in court the appointment of Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), as Deputy Director of Fundraising in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.
While every Nigerian has the constitutional right to seek judicial interpretation of any matter, it is important to put the issue in its proper legal and political context.
Dr. Zacch Adedeji is a presidential appointee occupying a statutory executive position. He is not a career civil servant appointed through the conventional career structure of the Federal Civil Service. The Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Act, 2025 provides for the appointment of the Executive Chairman by the President.
It is therefore necessary to distinguish between career civil servants, who are subject to specific restrictions on partisan political activities, and political or statutory executive appointees, whose terms of appointment and applicable laws must be considered in determining their political rights and responsibilities.
The mere fact that Dr. Adedeji heads the nation’s revenue service does not automatically extinguish his political rights. If there is no specific statutory or constitutional prohibition against his participation, his appointment to a campaign committee cannot simply be declared illegal by assumption.
At the same time, Dr. Adedeji, like every public office holder, must ensure that his official position is kept separate from partisan campaign activities. Public funds, government facilities, official resources and confidential government information must never be deployed for partisan purposes.
If Senator Dino Melaye believes that the appointment violates any specific provision of the Constitution, statute, regulation or applicable conditions of service, he remains free to approach the courts. However, the appropriate legal question is whether a specific and enforceable prohibition exists—not whether occupying a public office automatically prevents a Nigerian from participating in political activities.
The South-West Unity Forum therefore urges all stakeholders to allow the law to take its course and avoid presenting a disputed legal interpretation as an established fact.
Signed:
Dr. Rasheed Oyebisi
General Secretary
South-West Unity Forum
