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, insisting that his responsibilities as president require him to remain focused on governance and Nigeria’s economic affairs.
Tinubu made this known on Wednesday during the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, where he urged party members to take the campaign message to Nigerians across states and local government areas while he continued to attend to the affairs of the country.
The president acknowledged concerns that campaign activities could distract him from governing, agreeing that Nigeria currently required his attention.
“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 the campaign council members to excuse him from accompanying them to every campaign event, explaining that the government had financial obligations to meet, including payments to international creditors.
“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 importance of attracting investors willing to establish long-term businesses in Nigeria and contribute to the country’s future, particularly for the benefit 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 his decision not to attend every campaign event, Tinubu assured Nigerians that he would continue to communicate with them directly while the campaign council handled 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 stated.
The president described the inauguration of the campaign council as more than a routine political gathering, saying it represented a renewed commitment to Nigerians and the responsibilities entrusted to the APC as the country’s governing 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,” Tinubu said.
He explained that the council would be responsible for taking the administration’s vision, record and plans to voters nationwide as the party prepares for the 2027 election.
“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,” he added.
Tinubu also congratulated APC members on completing the party’s congresses, recalling that some had predicted internal divisions and a possible breakdown during the process.
According to him, the party overcame the challenges and completed the exercise with its 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,” the president said.
Tinubu’s remarks come as the APC begins preparations for the 2027 general election, with the campaign council expected to coordinate the party’s mobilisation and communicate its agenda to voters across Nigeria.
