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 governance and the country’s financial obligations require his attention.
Tinubu made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, where he urged members to take the party’s message to Nigerians across the states and local government areas while he remained focused on running the country.
The President said he agreed that the demands of political campaigning should not distract him from governance, stressing that Nigeria needed 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,” he said.
Explaining why he might not attend every campaign event, Tinubu pointed to the government’s financial responsibilities 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 said.
He also emphasised the need to attract investors willing to commit to long-term investments in Nigeria, describing such investments as essential to securing a better future for the country’s children.
“We want those investors to come in, be here to stay, to invest for the future of our children,” he said.
Despite his expected limited presence at campaign events, Tinubu assured Nigerians that he would continue to communicate with them directly while the campaign council coordinated mobilisation efforts 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.
The President 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.
Tinubu charged the council to communicate his administration’s vision, record and agenda to voters nationwide, expressing confidence that the party would secure victory in the forthcoming 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.
The President also commended APC members for successfully completing the party’s congresses, recalling predictions that the process could trigger an internal crisis.
According to him, the party had overcome the challenges and emerged united, crediting members for their participation 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,” Tinubu said.
