President Bola Tinubu said on Wednesday he will not attend every campaign event organised by his party’s presidential campaign council ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting governance and economic duties must take priority.
Tinubu made the remarks while inaugurating the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja. He urged council members to lead mobilisation efforts nationwide while he continued attending to state affairs.
“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 asked the council to excuse his absence from many outings, citing 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 stressed the need to attract long-term investors.
“We want those investors to come in, be here to stay, to invest for the future of our children,” he said.
Despite limiting his participation in rallies, he pledged to find time to address Nigerians directly while the council handled activities at state and local government levels.
“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.
The president described the inauguration as a renewed commitment to the Nigerian people rather than a mere formal event.
“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 charged the council to take the administration’s vision, records and agenda to voters, expressing confidence it would deliver victory.
“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 said.
Tinubu also congratulated party members on completing the APC congresses, noting the process had overcome predictions of internal crisis.
“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.
