President Bola Tinubu has said he may not attend every campaign rally ahead of the 2027 general election, citing the demands of governance, Nigeria’s financial obligations and the need to attract long-term investment.
Tinubu made this known on Wednesday during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Addressing party leaders and campaign officials, the president said his responsibilities as head of state would require him to prioritise governance while the campaign team coordinates activities across states, local government areas and wards.
“Nigeria needs more attention now than ever before. The responsibility of this office does not pause,” Tinubu said.
He explained that although he would continue to communicate directly with Nigerians, he might not accompany campaign officials to every political engagement.
“So, you will excuse me from going everywhere with you; we have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait,” he said.
The president also emphasised the need to attract investors prepared to make long-term commitments to Nigeria, signalling that economic management and the country’s financial responsibilities would remain priorities during the election campaign.
Tinubu said he agreed with party members who advised him against allowing campaign activities to distract him from governing the country.
“You’ve warned me not to allow the rigour of the campaign to distract me from governance, I hear you. I am in full agreement with your decision. Nigeria needs more attention now,” he said.
Tinubu Pledges Commitment to APC Manifesto
Despite indicating that he might be absent from some campaign engagements, Tinubu pledged his commitment to the APC manifesto and the party’s objectives as he seeks another presidential term in 2027.
The president described himself as a servant of the party, promising to work towards fulfilling the commitments made to Nigerians.
“To me, I am your errand man. Even for the president, I raise my hand for full commitment that we abide by my promises and the manifestos, the objective, the intention of our party. That’s all I give you,” he said.
Tinubu also commended the APC for successfully conducting its congresses and electing leaders at ward, local government, state and national levels despite predictions that the process could trigger an internal crisis.
He recalled that the party’s 15th National Executive Committee meeting, held on December 19, 2025, ratified the congress programme.
According to the president, the party completed the process without the divisions some observers had anticipated.
“We conducted it. They said there would be implosion. We passed through it. We did not fail. You did not let us down,” he said.
Tinubu described the Presidential Campaign Council as a platform for communicating the administration’s achievements, policies and plans to Nigerians across the country.
“This council will carry our vision, our record and our agenda to every Nigerian, and it will carry them to every ward of this country. We arrive at this moment strong, united and renewed,” he said.
However, he warned party members that their work would not be complete until they secured electoral support in the 2027 general election.
“But no one gets credit for an incomplete assignment. So, until you deliver the next election, until you deliver your wards, until you deliver the votes, before we can say thank you,” he said.
Shettima Challenges Opposition Parties Over Unity
Vice President Kashim Shettima questioned the ability of opposition politicians seeking to defeat Tinubu in 2027 to manage Nigeria’s diverse interests, arguing that some had struggled to maintain unity within their own political parties.
“Meanwhile, those offering to rescue Nigeria cannot keep their own political households intact,” Shettima said.
The vice president asked how politicians unable to reconcile disagreements among party leaders would manage the competing interests of a country with more than 200 million people.
“So I ask, if reconciling a few party leaders defeats you, how will you reconcile the interests of over 200 million citizens?” he said.
Shettima described the 2027 election as an opportunity for Nigerians to evaluate the competence, character and policy positions of presidential candidates.
He urged members of the campaign council to engage communities, listen to public concerns and communicate the administration’s case through sustained grassroots mobilisation.
“Every committee of the Presidential Campaign Council must earn its place through hard work, every community must hear our case, and every grievance must receive a patient hearing,” he said.
Defending the government’s economic reforms, Shettima said Tinubu inherited an economy facing severe fiscal pressure and took difficult decisions that previous administrations had avoided.
“President Bola Tinubu inherited immense expectations on an economy approaching fiscal catastrophe. He confronted the subsidy burden and the currency distortion that rewarded access above enterprise,” he said.
The vice president argued that the administration had prioritised long-term economic stability over immediate political popularity.
Akpabio Warns APC Governors Against Abandoning Their States
Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged APC governors to remain focused on their responsibilities to their constituents rather than pursuing other political offices before completing their constitutionally permitted tenures.
Addressing party leaders at the inauguration, Akpabio cautioned governors against neglecting the people who elected them.
“For my brothers who are governors, I want you to know that you must not abandon your people,” he said.
Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, cited his own experience in office and urged governors to complete their eight-year tenure before considering other political positions.
“I did eight years as a governor. And the constitution says you should do eight years. There’s no need for you to start eyeing another position that is not available,” he said.
The Senate president attributed his political success to maintaining a strong relationship with the electorate and remaining attentive to the concerns of ordinary Nigerians.
“I have been in this business for over 25 years, and I always win. And why I always win is because I stand with people. Go and mend your clothes when they are not torn,” he said.
APC Chairman Calls for Honest Assessment of Government’s Record
APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda urged members of the Presidential Campaign Council to acknowledge the challenges facing the federal government while explaining the administration’s achievements and policy priorities.
In his welcome address, Yilwatda said the campaign should present an accurate account of the government’s performance and outline its plans for the future.
“We have made so much progress but must acknowledge where we have challenges while explaining the objectives, progress and continuing work of the administration,” he said.
He said the campaign council must clearly communicate what the government had completed, what remained in progress and what it intended to achieve if Tinubu secured another term.
“Our responsibility is to explain clearly what has been completed, what is progressing and what remains to be done,” Yilwatda said.
The APC chairman also stressed the importance of demonstrating how the administration’s policies and investments would translate into tangible improvements in Nigerians’ daily lives.
He said the party would seek another mandate for Tinubu, arguing that the administration’s reform agenda and development priorities deserved more time to deliver results.
APC Begins Preparations for 2027 Presidential Election
The inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council marked a formal step in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general election.
Party leaders used the occasion to urge members to defend the administration’s record, strengthen grassroots mobilisation, address public concerns and build support across the country.
Tinubu’s comments signalled that the president intends to balance his re-election campaign with the responsibilities of running the federal government, while campaign officials take the lead in coordinating political activities across the country.
With the 2027 election approaching, the APC faces the task of presenting its record to voters, defending its economic policies and convincing Nigerians to grant the administration another four-year mandate.