ABUJA, Nigeria — The media office of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, criticised President Bola Tinubu on October 15, 2026, following his decision not to accompany the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council to every campaign event ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Golden Info reports that spokesman Idris Zekeri issued a statement on Thursday stating that President Bola Tinubu cannot delegate accountability or rely on political allies to defend his administration while citizens grapple with government policies.
The response follows an announcement made by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, in Abuja, during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council. President Bola Tinubu stated that he would not attend every campaign event, citing the need to focus on governance, economic obligations, and efforts to attract foreign investors.
In the statement released by Idris Zekeri, the media office challenged President Bola Tinubu to explain his administration’s performance directly to the public. “President Bola Tinubu reportedly says the demands of governance may keep him away from the campaign trail. Nigerians deserve to ask: If he cannot make time to face the electorate, why should surrogates be sent to ask for their votes?” Idris Zekeri said.
The media office maintained that political surrogates cannot answer for administrative outcomes or policy execution. “Surrogates can speak for the President, but they cannot answer for his failures. They can repeat his promises, but they cannot make those promises a reality. They can campaign in his name, but they cannot carry his responsibility,” Idris Zekeri said.
The statement further called on President Bola Tinubu to address the impact of his economic measures on essential living costs across the country. “If the administration has delivered on its promises, why should the President be reluctant to defend that record before Nigerians himself? If the economy is improving, let him explain how that improvement is reflected in the cost of food, transportation, electricity, housing, and necessities,” Idris Zekeri said.
The media office concluded by stating that seeking a second term requires direct engagement with the voting population. “Governance is not an excuse to avoid accountability. In a democracy, governance is the very record a candidate must defend before asking for another mandate,” Idris Zekeri said.