ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has told members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council not to expect him to accompany them to every campaign event ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that he must remain focused on governance and the country’s financial obligations.
Tinubu spoke on Wednesday during the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, urging members to take the party’s message to Nigerians across the states and local government areas while he continued to attend to governance, reports Vanguard.
The President said he agreed with concerns that the rigours of electioneering should not distract him from running the country, stressing that Nigeria required greater attention at the moment.
“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,” Tinubu said.
He subsequently asked council members to excuse him from accompanying them to every campaign event, citing the need to meet the country’s financial obligations.
“So, you will excuse me from going everywhere with you, we have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait,” the President said.
Tinubu also stressed the need to attract investors willing to establish long-term business interests in Nigeria and contribute to the future of the country’s younger generations.
“We want those investors to come in, be here to stay, to invest for the future of our children,” he said.
Despite his decision not to attend every campaign event, the President assured Nigerians that he would continue to engage them directly while the campaign council coordinated mobilisation across the country.
“However, I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians, even as you lead the campaign in the states and local government areas,” he said.
Tinubu described the inauguration of the campaign council as more than a political exercise, portraying it as a renewed commitment to Nigerians and the responsibilities entrusted to the ruling party.
“We have not gathered merely to inaugurate a council. We have gathered to renew a covenant. A covenant with Nigerian people and the historic responsibility they have entrusted to us as Nigeria’s governing party,” he said.
He added that the council would be responsible for communicating the administration’s vision, record and agenda to voters nationwide.
“This council will carry our vision, our records and our agenda to every Nigerian, and it will carry them to victory every ward of this country,” Tinubu said.
The President also commended APC members for successfully completing the party’s congresses, recalling predictions that the exercise would trigger internal crises.
According to him, the party had overcome the anticipated challenges and emerged united, crediting members for participating in the process from the ward level to the national leadership.
“They said there will be implosion. We passed through it. We did not fail. You didn’t let us down. We got here together,” he said.
