Friends in Public, Foes in Publicity: Dino Melaye, Seyi Tinubu, and the Mask of Opposition Politics in Nigeria
By G. Fraser. MFR The National Patriots. HeadlineNews.News Political Desk | July 20, 2025
Photos of Barrister Dino Melaye, a vocal member of the opposition coalition, laughing and mingling with Seyi Tinubu—son of President Bola Tinubu—at Seyi Vodi’s 50th birthday celebration last night, have ignited fresh questions about the true nature of Nigeria’s political rivalry.
But to seasoned observers, this is nothing new. In fact, it is a consistent pattern in Nigerian politics: public theatrics of opposition by day, private camaraderie by night.
Opposition or Opportunism?
Dino Melaye has long styled himself as a firebrand critic of APC and President Tinubu. Yet, his appearance at elite social functions with members of the ruling establishment tells a different story—a story of political relevance, not ideological resistance.
This is symptomatic of a broader truth: in Nigeria, most political actors are loyal not to parties or policies, but to personal positioning. Parties often serve as temporary vehicles for ambition, not instruments of governance or ideological conviction.
As one Abuja-based political analyst, Dr. Uche Anozie, noted:
“For many Nigerian politicians, opposition is just a strategy to negotiate influence, not a principled stand against failed policies.”
The Ideology Vacuum
With the exception of the All Progressives Congress (APC)—formed as a merger with at least a nominal progressive ideological framework—most Nigerian political parties lack clear philosophical grounding.
PDP, the primary opposition party, ruled Nigeria for 16 years but failed to distinguish itself ideologically beyond power rotation and patronage.
Labour Party (LP), which gained momentum in 2023 with Peter Obi, has struggled to build a sustainable structure or coherent ideology beyond the candidate’s appeal.
This ideological vacuum leaves room for cross-carpeting, where politicians like Melaye have switched between PDP, APC, and other platforms multiple times, not due to conviction, but convenience.
Cross-Carpeting Culture: A History
In 2014, mass defections from PDP to APC led to the defeat of the incumbent Jonathan administration.
In 2018, the tide reversed—dozens of APC legislators, including Senate President Bukola Saraki, defected to PDP ahead of the 2019 elections.
Dino Melaye himself defected from APC to PDP in 2018, only to be seen in meetings and social circles with APC chieftains during the Tinubu presidency.
This political promiscuity is often framed as “realignment,” but in truth, it reflects a system where access to power, not public service, is the primary motivator.
Performative Politics and the Cost to Nigeria
What makes this trend particularly dangerous is that it undermines the essence of democratic checks and balances. Opposition parties should hold ruling governments accountable—but how can that happen when their leaders are more interested in social proximity than ideological contrast?
The appearance of opposition leaders in exclusive, elite gatherings with the ruling elite confirms a long-running suspicion among Nigerians: that the so-called opposition exists not to serve the people but to secure leverage.
This was evident when opposition figures rushed to Buhari’s burial not out of genuine mourning, but to posture near his enduring northern legacy. Just as it is evident in Dino’s strategic reappearances in proximity to power.
Conclusion: Nigeria Needs Ideological Integrity, Not Social Familiarity
The picture of Dino Melaye with Seyi Tinubu is not an isolated moment—it is a metaphor for the Nigerian political class as a whole. Behind the microphones and media spats, most players operate within the same elite circles, bargaining not for the people but for positions.
Until political parties prioritize ideology and policy over power games, opposition will remain performative, and democracy will continue to serve the few instead of the many.
Dr. G. Fraser. MFR
The National Patriots.
Headlinenews.news Special Publication.
