President Bola Tinubu has said he will not abandon his responsibilities as Nigeria’s leader to participate in every campaign rally ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that governance and the country’s economic obligations must remain his priority.
Tinubu made the declaration on Wednesday while inaugurating the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja. He charged party leaders and campaign council members to mobilise support for his re-election bid across the country while he continues to attend to national affairs.
The President urged the council to take the administration’s achievements, policies and plans to Nigerians at the grassroots, including communities across the states and local government areas.
His position comes as the APC intensifies preparations for the January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.
The inauguration also featured strong endorsements of Tinubu’s re-election bid by prominent political figures, including Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Tinubu Explains Why Governance Must Continue
Speaking at the event, Tinubu said the responsibilities of the presidency would not be suspended because of election campaigns.
He explained that Nigeria required his attention, particularly as the government continued to manage the economy, meet its financial obligations and work towards attracting investments.
According to the President, he had agreed with party leaders that the demands of the campaign should not distract him from governance.
He said he would still communicate directly with Nigerians but expected members of the campaign council to handle mobilisation activities across the country without requiring him to attend every rally.
Tinubu also emphasised that the government needed to meet its financial commitments and maintain investor confidence to attract long-term investments into the economy.
He described the inauguration of the campaign council as an opportunity for the APC to renew its commitment to Nigerians and communicate its vision and achievements to the electorate.
The President charged members to work towards victory in every ward, warning that their previous contributions to the party would not be enough without another electoral victory.
He also commended APC members for conducting their party congresses without the major internal crisis that some had predicted.
Tinubu further urged the party to remain committed to tackling poverty, illiteracy, ignorance and underdevelopment, using the APC’s symbol of a broken shackle to reinforce his message.
Shettima Attacks Obi Over Economic Proposals
Vice-President Kashim Shettima used the occasion to criticise the economic proposals of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Shettima questioned Obi’s frequent comparisons between Nigeria and other countries, particularly Bangladesh, arguing that economic policies must reflect the specific circumstances of the country where they are implemented.
Describing Obi as a friend, the Vice-President said Nigeria’s population, economic structure, institutions and national priorities were different from those of Bangladesh.
He argued that policies that worked in another country could not automatically produce the same results in Nigeria without proper consideration of local conditions.
Shettima also challenged Obi’s claim that he won the 2023 presidential election, describing the assertion as unsupported.
Obi, who contested the 2023 election under the Labour Party, finished third behind Tinubu and Atiku, according to the official election results.
The former Anambra State governor has repeatedly criticised the Tinubu administration’s economic management, arguing that Nigeria’s major challenge is the management of public resources rather than excessive borrowing.
Shettima Questions Atiku’s Plan to Restore Petrol Subsidy
The Vice-President also challenged Atiku over his proposal to introduce a production-based petrol subsidy if elected President in 2027.
Atiku has argued that his proposed arrangement would be targeted, capped, transparently budgeted and independently audited. He has maintained that the plan would support domestic refining and production rather than return Nigeria to the previous import-dependent subsidy system.
The former Vice-President has also criticised the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol discount at NNPC retail outlets, describing the measure as too limited and selective.
However, Shettima questioned how Atiku intended to fund the proposed subsidy and what other government programmes might lose funding as a result.
He also accused the ADC presidential candidate of changing his ideological position for political reasons, arguing that a change in political philosophy would not resolve the financial challenges associated with the policy.
Shettima maintained that presidential candidates should explain how their proposals would be funded and how they would affect competing national priorities.
Wike Warns APC Governors Against Failure
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, warned APC governors and other members of the campaign council that their positions and titles would mean little if they failed to deliver electoral victories for Tinubu in their respective states.
Wike, who was appointed to coordinate the President’s campaign in Rivers State and the FCT, pledged to mobilise support for Tinubu in both territories.
He stressed that the primary objective of the campaign council should be to secure the President’s re-election rather than celebrate the offices held by its members.
Wike cited Lagos State as an example, arguing that even senior presidential aides must demonstrate their ability to secure votes in their home states.
Despite remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike defended his support for Tinubu, saying opposition politics should not require members to reject government policies simply because they were introduced by a rival party.
He argued that democracy required an objective assessment of government performance, regardless of political affiliation.
The FCT minister also praised Tinubu for supporting the proposed establishment of state police, expressing optimism that the constitutional process could be completed in the coming months.
Wike said he believed the proposed state police system could help address insecurity across the country.
He further expressed confidence that Tinubu would secure victory in the 2027 election, predicting that campaign council members would return to the Presidential Villa after the election to celebrate their success.
Soludo Declares APGA’s Support for Tinubu
Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo announced that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was supporting Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Soludo said the party’s decision was based on its position on national unity, security and shared prosperity.
He described the political support Tinubu was receiving as unprecedented, pointing to the presence of numerous governors and political leaders at the campaign council’s inauguration.
The Anambra governor also called on the APC and other political groups supporting the President to recognise APGA as a partner in the political movement.
He noted that APGA was registered in 2002, before the APC was formed in 2013.
Soludo acknowledged that the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms had brought difficulties but argued that the policies were necessary to stabilise the economy and should be sustained.
He said Nigeria needed to move beyond economic stability towards shared prosperity, expressing the view that a second Tinubu administration would help accelerate that process.
Uzodimma Calls for Unity Among APC Governors
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, speaking on behalf of the Progressive Governors Forum, urged APC governors and party leaders to remain united and support the continuation of Tinubu’s reform programme.
Uzodimma said the APC controlled 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states and had elected local government chairmen in about 685 of the country’s 774 local government areas.
He attributed the party’s political position partly to the policies introduced by Tinubu since assuming office in 2023, including petrol subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms and changes to the tax system.
Although he acknowledged the economic difficulties associated with the reforms, Uzodimma argued that the measures were beginning to produce results.
He cited economic growth, a decline in inflation and improved international credit ratings as signs of progress.
The governor also highlighted government initiatives such as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the consumer credit scheme, conditional cash transfers and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
According to him, more than 1.5 million students had benefited from the education loan scheme, with over ₦350 billion disbursed to support tuition and upkeep.
He also mentioned the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, which aims to extend development initiatives to all 8,809 wards nationwide.
Uzodimma argued that the administration needed more time to consolidate its reforms and deliver their expected benefits.
However, he warned APC members against assuming that the party’s numerical strength guaranteed victory in 2027. He urged them to resolve disagreements arising from party primaries, engage voters at the grassroots and comply with electoral laws.
He also encouraged Tinubu to concentrate on governance while party leaders handled the campaign.
Adeleke Says Four Years Is Not Enough
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke also expressed support for Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that four years would not be sufficient to complete the administration’s transformation agenda.
Adeleke said the President deserved another term to continue projects and policies already initiated by his government.
His position added to the endorsements from political leaders at the inauguration, although the ultimate decision will rest with voters in the 2027 election.
Akpabio Says National Assembly Supports Tinubu
Senate President Godswill Akpabio declared that the National Assembly was firmly behind Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Akpabio praised the President’s leadership and said the legislature would not allow political opponents to destabilise his administration.
He also argued that Nigerians were beginning to recognise the reforms introduced by the government.
APC Chairman Promises Campaign Based on Achievements
Meanwhile, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda urged members of the Presidential Campaign Council to present the administration’s record honestly.
Yilwatda said the party should highlight its achievements while acknowledging areas where the government had encountered challenges.
He maintained that the campaign should be based on evidence of progress, clear explanations of government policies and a credible vision for the future.
According to him, the APC must convince Nigerians through facts and practical plans rather than relying solely on political claims.
The inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council signals an intensification of the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general election.
While Tinubu has pledged to continue governing rather than attend every campaign event, party leaders and governors are expected to coordinate mobilisation across the country.
The ruling party is positioning continuity and the continuation of its economic reforms as key arguments for Tinubu’s re-election, while opposition candidates continue to challenge the administration’s policies and record.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of the campaign and the response of voters will determine the outcome of the 2027 presidential election.
READ ALSO:
- Sanwo-Olu Names Six Senior Civil Servants Permanent Secretaries
- Peller Plans Livestream With Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka
- Nigerian Dies After Alleged Torture By Cape Town Police, Consulate Demands Justice
- US weighs using ‘Mother of All Bombs’ on Iran if Trump resumes war – CNN
- Fake Drinks Bust: Trade Fair Complex Management Declares Zero Tolerance for Counterfeiters, Backs NAFDAC
