2027 Election: Tinubu Says He Won’t Attend Every APC Campaign Event, Cites Governance

President Bola Tinubu has told members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council not to expect him to attend every campaign event ahead of the 2027 general election, saying he must balance electioneering with the responsibilities of governing Nigeria.

Tinubu made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council, where he directed members to take the APC’s message to voters across the states, local government areas and wards while he continued to focus on the country’s economic and administrative affairs.

The president said he agreed that the demands of campaigning should not prevent him from attending to governance, stressing that Nigeria required his 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 understand that he would not accompany them to every campaign engagement, citing the government’s financial commitments and international obligations.

“So, you will excuse me from going everywhere with you, we have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait,” the president stated.

Tinubu also highlighted the need to attract investors willing to commit capital to Nigeria over the long term, saying such investments were important to the country’s future and the prospects of younger generations.

“We want those investors to come in, be here to stay, to invest for the future of our children,” he said.

Despite indicating that he might not attend every campaign event, the president assured Nigerians that he would continue to communicate with 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 added.

Tinubu described the inauguration as more than a routine political exercise, presenting it as a renewed commitment by the ruling party to Nigerians and the responsibilities attached to governing the country.

“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 charged the council to communicate the administration’s policies, record in office and plans for the country to voters nationwide as the 2027 election approaches.

“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 praised APC members for completing the party’s congresses, recalling predictions that the internal exercises could trigger serious divisions within the ruling party.

According to him, the party had navigated the process without the anticipated breakdown, with members participating from the ward level through 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.

Tinubu’s remarks place governance and economic responsibilities at the centre of his stated approach to the 2027 campaign, while assigning the council a leading role in taking the APC’s message to voters across Nigeria.