The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has challenged President Bola Tinubu to personally engage Nigerians during the 2027 general election campaign and account for his administration’s performance before seeking a second term in office.
The opposition party accused the president of treating Nigerians with contempt following his declaration that he would not attend every campaign rally, insisting that his responsibilities as head of state should not prevent him from explaining his policies and record to voters.
The ADC’s position was conveyed by its Presidential Campaign Council Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, while receiving a delegation of youths operating under the aegis of Young Voters for Atiku.
Ologbondiyan argued that a president seeking re-election has a responsibility to directly engage the electorate, defend the decisions taken during his first term and explain how his administration has addressed the country’s major challenges.
According to him, Tinubu should not rely solely on governors, ministers, party officials and political associates to campaign on his behalf while avoiding direct questions from Nigerians about his performance.
“What President Tinubu has done is a clear act of contempt against the Nigerian people,” Ologbondiyan said.
He also dismissed the argument that the demands of governance could prevent Tinubu from participating extensively in the 2027 campaign, citing former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, who sought re-election while serving in office.
“President Tinubu has taken Nigerians for a joke and should not seek re-election. A President who is afraid to face his own people has no business asking for their votes,” he added.
The remarks reflect the ADC’s growing criticism of the president’s approach to the forthcoming election campaign, with the opposition seeking to make the administration’s economic and security record a central issue in the contest.
ADC raises concerns over hardship, insecurity
Beyond the dispute over campaign rallies, the ADC campaign council criticised the Tinubu administration over the economic difficulties, insecurity, hunger and poverty confronting Nigerians.
Ologbondiyan maintained that the president should be prepared to answer questions from citizens struggling with the cost of food, rising living expenses and concerns about their personal safety and livelihoods.
He argued that these challenges should form a central part of the president’s engagement with voters as he seeks another four-year mandate.
“He knows Nigerians are hungry and angry. He knows that the average Nigerian finds it difficult to eat and to be secure,” he said.
The ADC also urged young Nigerians to reject the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general election, arguing that returning the party to power would prolong the difficulties facing the country.
The opposition party’s appeal to young voters comes as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the next general election, with economic management, employment, security and the cost of living likely to feature prominently in political debates.
However, the ADC’s criticisms and projections represent the party’s political position, while the administration’s overall performance and the competing policy proposals of the parties remain issues for voters to assess.
ADC promotes Atiku’s proposed agenda
Ologbondiyan said the ADC’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, was prepared to campaign across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, contrasting the former vice-president’s stated approach with Tinubu’s position on campaign appearances.
He also outlined what he described as the priorities of an Atiku-led administration, including economic recovery, wealth creation, improved national security and better living standards.
“Atiku Abubakar will bring back subsidy to reduce cost of petroleum products, create wealth, end hunger in our land, secure our nation and restore our battered economy,” Ologbondiyan said.
The statement places the proposed restoration of fuel subsidy among the opposition campaign’s economic promises. The policy would likely become a significant point of debate, given the implications of fuel pricing for transportation costs, household spending, businesses and government finances.
The ADC campaign council did not, in the remarks provided, outline the specific fiscal measures or implementation framework through which the proposed subsidy policy and other promises would be delivered.
The proposals are therefore campaign commitments that would require further explanation, including how they would be funded and implemented if the party were elected.
Atiku also challenges Tinubu over campaign rallies
Atiku has separately criticised Tinubu’s position on campaign rallies, arguing that the president must account for his administration’s performance before asking Nigerians to renew his mandate.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council Director of Strategic Communication, the former vice-president questioned the president’s decision to delegate much of the campaign activity to members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
Atiku argued that Tinubu should personally explain the effects of his administration’s policies on Nigerians rather than depend on political associates to defend his record.
“Now he wants another mandate. Before asking Nigerians for one, he must face them and account for the first term,” Atiku said.
He challenged the president to explain how his policies had affected food prices, pensioners’ access to medicines and employment opportunities for young people.
Atiku also questioned the administration’s stated concern about meeting the expectations of American creditors, arguing that the needs of Nigerians dealing with rising living costs should remain a priority.
According to the former vice-president, the responsibility for defending the administration’s record rests primarily with the president because he was the person who received the mandate, made the campaign promises and took the policy decisions.
“The people on his campaign council did not receive the mandate in 2023. Tinubu did. He made the promises. He took the decisions. He must face the questions,” he said.
Atiku’s remarks reinforce the ADC’s broader argument that the 2027 election should provide an opportunity for voters to scrutinise the administration’s record and demand explanations for policies affecting their daily lives.
What Tinubu told APC campaign council
Tinubu’s position followed the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on Wednesday, when he told members not to expect him to accompany them to every campaign event ahead of the 2027 general election.
The president urged council members to take the party’s message to Nigerians across the states and local government areas, while indicating that he would continue to attend to governance and the country’s economic responsibilities.
His remarks set off criticism from Atiku and the ADC campaign council, which interpreted the position as an unwillingness to engage directly with voters over the administration’s performance.
The disagreement centres on the competing demands of presidential duties and electioneering. While Tinubu’s stated position is that he must continue to focus on governance, his opponents insist that seeking re-election requires him to personally defend his record before the electorate.
The comments, however, do not by themselves establish that Tinubu will avoid all campaign rallies. His statement, as described by the parties, was that he would not attend every campaign event.
2027 campaign expected to focus on performance and promises
The exchange signals an emerging line of political confrontation ahead of the 2027 general election, with the ADC seeking to frame the contest around accountability, economic hardship and the president’s willingness to engage directly with Nigerians.
For the opposition, the central question is whether the Tinubu administration has delivered sufficiently on its promises to justify another term. The ruling party, meanwhile, will have the opportunity to defend its policies and present its own assessment of the administration’s achievements and ongoing programmes.
The debate is also likely to extend beyond campaign attendance to substantive questions about the economy, food affordability, employment, national security, energy costs and the welfare of vulnerable groups.
For voters, the key issues will include whether the parties can provide credible explanations of their records, present practical policy alternatives and demonstrate how their proposals would improve living conditions.
As political activities gather momentum, Tinubu’s decision not to attend every campaign rally has become another point of contention between the president and his opponents. The broader test in 2027, however, will be how effectively the competing parties defend their records, substantiate their claims and persuade Nigerians that their proposed policies offer a workable path forward.
