Tinubu Says Governance Will Come First as APC Launches 2027 Campaign Council
President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that he will not allow campaign activities to distract him from governing the country ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Tinubu gave the assurance on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He urged party leaders to take the administration’s message to Nigerians across the country while he continues to handle government responsibilities.
The President also stressed the need to meet Nigeria’s financial obligations, attract investors and sustain economic reforms.
The inauguration brought together APC leaders, governors and political figures from other parties who pledged support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Tinubu Says Nigeria Needs His Attention
Speaking at the event, Tinubu explained that his responsibilities as President would not stop because of the election campaign.
He said Nigeria needed his attention more than ever, adding that governance must continue while the campaign council handles political mobilisation.
According to the President, he would still communicate directly with Nigerians but would not attend every campaign rally across the country.
Tinubu also highlighted the need to meet the country’s financial commitments and maintain investor confidence.
He said attracting long-term investments remained important for Nigeria’s economic future and the welfare of younger generations.
The President described the inauguration as an opportunity for the APC to renew its commitment to Nigerians.
He urged campaign council members to communicate the administration’s policies, achievements and future plans to voters at the grassroots.
Tinubu also warned party members against complacency, insisting that their previous electoral efforts would count for little without success in the next election.
Shettima Criticises Obi Over Economic Comparisons
Vice President Kashim Shettima used the occasion to criticise Peter Obi over his economic proposals and comparisons between Nigeria and other countries.
Shettima argued that policies successful elsewhere could not automatically produce the same results in Nigeria.
He specifically referred to Bangladesh, using a clothing-size comparison to illustrate his argument that economic models must reflect each country’s circumstances.
According to the Vice President, differences in population, institutions, economic structures and national priorities must guide policymaking.
Shettima also challenged Obi’s claim that he won the 2023 presidential election, describing it as unsupported by evidence.
Obi contested the 2023 election on the Labour Party platform. The Supreme Court subsequently upheld Tinubu’s victory after the legal challenges to the result.
Shettima’s remarks added to the political exchanges between the ruling party and opposition figures ahead of the 2027 election.
Shettima Questions Atiku’s Production Subsidy Proposal
The Vice President also criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his proposal for production-based petrol subsidies.
Atiku, who is seeking the presidency under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has argued that a targeted subsidy could support domestic production and refining rather than revive the previous import-dependent system.
However, Shettima questioned how the proposal would be funded and what other government priorities might lose resources.
He asked who would pay for the intervention, who would benefit and which competing programmes might face funding cuts.
Shettima also accused Atiku of changing his ideological position for political advantage.
His criticism centred on the financial implications of the proposal and the need for clear funding arrangements.
Atiku’s position, however, is that a production-based subsidy would support domestic output under defined conditions, rather than restore the former subsidy structure.
Wike Warns APC Governors Against Poor Electoral Performance
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike also addressed the campaign council, warning APC governors and other political leaders that their positions would mean little if they failed to deliver votes for Tinubu.
Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was appointed to coordinate the President’s campaign in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory.
He argued that the campaign council’s main responsibility was to secure electoral support rather than celebrate official titles.
According to Wike, political leaders should not claim victory if Tinubu wins nationally but loses in the states they are expected to deliver.
He also defended his support for Tinubu, saying opposition politics should not require politicians to reject every policy introduced by a rival party.
Wike cited the proposed establishment of state police as an example of an issue he believed deserved serious attention.
He expressed confidence that constitutional steps towards state police could advance in the coming months, although the proposal still requires the necessary legislative and constitutional processes.
Soludo Announces APGA’s Support for Tinubu
Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo declared that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) would support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Soludo said the party’s position reflected its stated commitment to national unity, security and shared prosperity.
He also described the level of political support around Tinubu as unusual, pointing to the presence of governors and other political figures at the inauguration.
The Anambra governor urged progressive political forces to work together and sustain reforms he believes could help transform the economy.
His endorsement is politically notable because APGA is a separate party from the ruling APC.
Uzodimma Urges APC Governors to Sustain Reforms
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who chairs the Progressive Governors Forum, called on APC governors and party leaders to remain united behind Tinubu.
He argued that the administration needed more time to consolidate its economic reforms and deliver their expected benefits.
Uzodimma cited policies such as petrol subsidy removal, foreign exchange reforms and tax changes as important parts of the government’s economic agenda.
He acknowledged that the reforms had caused hardship but maintained that the administration should continue implementing them.
The governor also highlighted government programmes involving student loans, consumer credit, cash transfers and infrastructure development.
However, he warned party members that the APC’s political strength did not guarantee electoral victory.
He urged them to resolve internal disagreements, engage voters at the grassroots and comply with electoral laws.
Adeleke and Akpabio Back Tinubu’s Second-Term Bid
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke also expressed support for Tinubu’s re-election.
Adeleke argued that four years would not be sufficient to complete the administration’s projects and transformation agenda.
His position added to the endorsements from politicians outside the APC who attended the campaign council inauguration.
Also Read: Shettima Slams Atiku Over Tinubu Remarks
Senate President Godswill Akpabio also declared the National Assembly’s support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Akpabio said lawmakers would support the President’s re-election effort and argued that Nigerians were beginning to recognise the administration’s reforms.
Meanwhile, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda urged the campaign council to present the administration’s record honestly.
He said the campaign should acknowledge existing challenges while explaining government policies, progress and unfinished work.
According to Yilwatda, the party must make its case with evidence rather than rely solely on political promises.
APC Steps Up Preparations for 2027 Election
The inauguration marked another stage in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general election.
Tinubu chairs the Presidential Campaign Council, with Shettima and Yilwatda serving as vice-chairmen. Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari was named director-general, while Uzodimma serves as secretary.
The expanded council includes political figures from outside the APC, including Wike, Soludo and Adeleke, reflecting a broader effort to mobilise support across party lines.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027.
As preparations continue, the APC is presenting continuity and the consolidation of its reforms as central themes of Tinubu’s re-election campaign. Opposition figures, meanwhile, continue to challenge the administration’s economic policies and record.
Tinubu’s message at the inauguration was that the campaign should proceed without interrupting the business of government, while party leaders work to secure support ahead of the polls.
