‘You Can’t Campaign Through Surrogates’: Atiku, Peter Obi’s Camp Tell Tinubu Ahead of 2027

ABUJA — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Peter Obi Media Office have called on President Bola Tinubu to personally defend his administration’s record as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.

The two opposition camps argued that the president could not rely on governors, ministers, party chieftains and other political allies to campaign for his re-election without directly answering questions about the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.

Their reactions followed reports that Tinubu might not attend every campaign event organised by the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC), citing the need to focus on governance, economic commitments and attracting investors.

Atiku, through Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, said the president must account for his administration’s record before asking Nigerians to renew his mandate.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the former vice president questioned why Tinubu was citing the demands of governance as a reason for missing campaign rallies after three and a half years in office.

“Tinubu says he may miss campaign rallies because Nigeria needs his attention. Where was that urgency when Nigerians pleaded for relief?” he asked.

Atiku alleged that many Nigerians had been compelled to make difficult choices because of rising living costs, including cutting back on food, postponing medical care and struggling with the declining value of their earnings.

He challenged the president to explain what his government had done to ease the burden on households, pensioners and young people seeking employment.

“Let him look a mother in the eye and explain what his government has done to make food affordable. Let him tell pensioners why they cannot afford their medicines. Let him explain to young Nigerians why years of study and hard work have still not brought them decent jobs,” Atiku said.

He also faulted what he portrayed as the administration’s greater urgency in dealing with foreign creditors and investors than addressing the concerns of citizens.

“Tinubu says American creditors cannot wait. Nigerians cannot wait either. They have bills to pay, children to feed and lives to rebuild. They deserve a President who treats their suffering with the same urgency he gives creditors and investors,” he stated.

According to Atiku, political allies cannot resolve economic challenges simply by campaigning on the president’s behalf.

“He can fill every campaign stage in Nigeria. He cannot fill an empty pot with surrogates. He cannot send a politician into a market to persuade prices to fall,” he said.

Atiku maintained that Tinubu personally received the mandate in the 2023 election and should therefore take responsibility for the promises made and decisions taken by his administration.

“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 added.

He warned that Nigerians would base their voting decisions on their experiences rather than campaign speeches delivered by the president’s supporters.

“No crowd of politicians can stand between Tinubu and his record,” Atiku said.

Peter Obi’s Camp: President Must Answer Nigerians Directly

The Peter Obi Media Office also faulted Tinubu’s reported position, insisting that the president must personally engage voters if he intends to seek another term.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the office’s spokesperson, Idris Zekeri, questioned the rationale for sending political representatives to campaign when the president himself might not be available to face the electorate.

“President Tinubu reportedly said 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?” Zekeri said.

The office argued that political allies could communicate the president’s message but could not take responsibility for the consequences of his policies.

“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,” the statement read.

It challenged Tinubu to explain how his administration’s policies had affected the cost of essential goods and services, including food, transportation, electricity and housing.

The statement further maintained that the performance of an incumbent president should be central to any campaign for re-election.

“Mr President, 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,” the office stated.

It added that voters were being asked to assess Tinubu’s leadership, policies and promises rather than those of his political allies.

“You cannot send surrogates to collect the votes while keeping the President away from the questions. You cannot delegate the campaign and expect Nigerians to forget who must answer for the record,” it said.

The Obi media office called for direct engagement between the president and citizens, arguing that Nigerians deserved explanations about the administration’s achievements and unfulfilled promises.

“If there is a record to defend, let the President defend it. If there are promises yet to be fulfilled, let him explain them. And if Nigerians are being asked to renew his mandate, let him have the courage to face their questions,” the statement added.

It concluded that candidates seeking the people’s mandate must be prepared to answer for their performance in office.

“A President who seeks the people’s mandate must be prepared to face the people. Surrogates may carry the message, but they cannot carry the burden of accountability,” the office said.

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