Dino Melaye – Politics
| Stage Name: | Dino Melaye |
| Real Name: | Dino Melaye |
| Occupation: | Politician |
| Date Of Birth/Age: | 1st January 1974 (51 years) |
| State of Origin: | Kogi State, Nigeria |
| Gender: | Male |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Marital Status: | Divirced |
| Education: | Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria |
| Known for: | Politics |
Early Life
Dino Melaye was born on January 1, 1974 in Kano State, Nigeria, but his family comes from Ayetoro Gbede in Kogi State . As a boy, he attended Abdulaziz Attah Memorial College, Okene for secondary school. He was a school leader early on. He became head boy at both primary and secondary school and led many youth groups during his study days.
Educational Background
Dino went to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he studied Geography and graduated in the year 2000. He also served as a student union leader while at ABU. Later, he became President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and then Secretary‑General of the African Youth Council and of the Commonwealth Youth Council. Because of these youth leadership roles, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him to chair the Presidential Advisory Council on Youths.
Career
Entry into Politics
Dino started politics in 2007 when he was elected to the House of Representatives, representing Kabba/Ijumu Federal Constituency in Kogi State under PDP. He served until 2011.
Becoming a Senator
In 2015, Dino was elected to the Senate to represent Kogi West. He served until October 11, 2019, when he lost his seat after a court order and repeat election declared his opponent, Smart Adeyemi, the winner.
During his time in the Senate, he became Chair of the Senate Committee on FCT Abuja, and briefly Chair of the Aviation Committee. He sponsored nearly 20 bills and moved over 30 motions, including bills to create a Federal University of Agriculture in Kabba, and bills to stop mob violence and protect people with disabilities.
Melaye also helped nominate Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President in 2015, even though his own party (APC at the time) opposed it.
Later Political Moves
After he left the Senate in 2019, he contested in the Kogi State governorship elections, but lost in the primaries and in the general election. In 2023, he won the PDP primary to be the party’s candidate for governor in Kogi, but lost the main governorship election.
He also served as spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s PDP presidential campaign in 2023.
Personal Life & Controversies
Marriage and Family
Melaye was married to Tokunbo Melaye for about ten years. They had three children together. Tokunbo later filed for divorce, citing domestic violence. He was also linked to other women like Alero Falope, with whom he is reported to have had a child.
Certificate Scandal
In 2017, questions arose around his claim to hold multiple degrees. While he has a verified degree from ABU Zaria, his claim of earning degrees from Harvard and the London School of Economics was widely disputed. Harvard said he attended only a short course, not a degree, and LSE found no record he earned a degree there.
Other Controversies and Legal Issues
- Dino was accused of holding US bank accounts, which is against Nigerian public service rules. There was evidence of transactions including a $1,000 payment to a dermatology clinic in New York. He denied wrongdoing.
- He had a heated confrontation with Senator Oluremi Tinubu, even threatening to beat and “impregnate” her on the Senate floor.
- In 2018, he was arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja by immigration authorities. He was granted bail at ₦90 million, rearrested, and briefly held by police under siege at his home in Maitama.
- He surrendered to police in January 2019 in connection with a case involving a shot police officer, and once slept outside the DSS hospital in protest.
Social Media Presence
Dino Melaye is very active on social media, especially Instagram and Twitter. By December 2024, he had become Nigeria’s most‑followed politician on Instagram, with around 3 million followers. He often posts videos, funny messages, photos of cars, houses, events, and political views.
People call him the “Drama King” because he posts bold and dramatic statements like “APC scatter scatter, everything jaga jaga” and shows off his luxury lifestyle in videos and pictures.
Net Worth
Estimates of Dino Melaye’s net worth vary widely. Sources give different figures:
- ₦15 billion naira (about $10 million) in 2025.
- Other estimates say he is worth $800 million, placing him among Nigeria’s richest politicians.
- Another source says about ₦12 billion naira (~$10–50 million).
Much of his wealth comes from several sources:
- Political earnings like salary, allowances, and pensions.
- Real estate investments, with houses in Abuja, Lagos, and Kogi.
- Business ventures, including franchise ownership in McDonald’s restaurants in the USA and involvement in oil, gas, and media businesses.
- Car dealership and imports featuring luxury brands.
He once claimed his McDonald’s investment of about $350,000 grew to a profit after tax of $1.2 million, and now includes multiple branches.
He is famous for owning many exotic cars—names like Lamborghini, Bugatti, Rolls‑Royce, Porsche, Bentley, Mercedes‑G‑Wagon and others appear in reports. He also owns luxury mansions, including a big one in Maitama, Abuja, and another in Kogi State.
