By Quazeem Halimot Bukola
President Bola Tinubu has said he may not attend every campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general election, citing the demands of governance, Nigeria’s financial obligations and the need to attract long-term investors.
Tinubu made this known on Wednesday during the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Addressing party leaders and members, the president said his responsibilities as head of state would require him to prioritise governance while campaign officials coordinate activities across states and local government areas.
“Nigeria needs more attention now than ever before. The responsibility of this office does not pause,” he said.
The president explained that although he would continue to engage Nigerians directly, he might not accompany the campaign team to every event.
“So, you will excuse me from going everywhere with you; we have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait,” Tinubu said.
He added that attracting investors willing to make long-term commitments to Nigeria remained a priority, stressing the need to balance campaign activities with the country’s economic and financial responsibilities.
Tinubu also expressed agreement with party members who advised him against allowing the demands of the campaign 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 his indication that he might be absent from some campaign engagements, Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to the APC’s manifesto and objectives ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Describing himself as a servant of the party, the president pledged to work towards fulfilling his promises and implementing the party’s agenda.
“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 lead to an internal crisis.
He recalled that the party’s 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, held on 19 December 2025, ratified the congress programme.
“We conducted it. They said there would be implosion. We passed through it. We did not fail. You did not let us down,” the president said.
He described the Presidential Campaign Council as a platform for communicating the administration’s achievements, vision and agenda 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, Tinubu warned that the party’s efforts would not be considered complete until it secured victory in the next 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 questions opposition’s ability to maintain unity
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who also addressed the gathering, questioned the capacity of opposition politicians seeking to defeat Tinubu in 2027 to manage Nigeria’s diverse interests.
Shettima argued that some opposition figures had struggled to maintain unity within their political parties, raising questions about their ability to govern a country with more than 200 million people.
“Meanwhile, those offering to rescue Nigeria cannot keep their own political households intact,” he said.
The vice president challenged opposition politicians to demonstrate how they would reconcile competing national interests when they had been unable to resolve disagreements among their party leaders.
“So I ask, if reconciling a few party leaders defeats you, how will you reconcile the interests of over 200 million citizens?” he said.
He described the 2027 election as an opportunity for Nigerians to evaluate the competence, character and policy positions of the candidates seeking the presidency.
Shettima also urged members of the Presidential Campaign Council to intensify grassroots mobilisation, engage communities and listen to citizens’ concerns while presenting the administration’s policies and achievements.
“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.
Shettima defends Tinubu’s economic reforms
The vice president also defended the administration’s economic policies, arguing that Tinubu inherited an economy facing severe fiscal challenges and had taken difficult decisions that previous administrations avoided.
According to Shettima, the president confronted longstanding economic problems, including the burden of fuel subsidies and distortions in the foreign exchange market.
“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.
Shettima maintained that the administration had prioritised long-term economic stability over immediate political popularity, presenting its reforms as necessary steps towards addressing the country’s economic challenges.
The inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council signals the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general election, with party leaders expected to coordinate nationwide mobilisation and communicate the administration’s record and policy agenda to voters.
Tinubu’s remarks indicate that while he intends to remain committed to the party’s re-election campaign, the responsibilities of governing the country will influence his participation in campaign activities.
