The battle for Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election is heating up, and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential hopeful Peter Obi have challenged President Bola Tinubu to face Nigerians directly instead of relying on political allies to campaign for his re-election.
Their reactions followed reports that Tinubu might not attend every campaign event because of the demands of governance and his need to focus on economic matters and attracting investors.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, argued that Nigerians deserve to hear directly from the President about his administration’s record, particularly as many households continue to struggle with the cost of food, healthcare, transportation and other necessities.
The former vice-president insisted that governors, ministers and party loyalists cannot take responsibility for the decisions made by the President. He maintained that Tinubu personally sought Nigerians’ votes in 2023 and should be prepared to defend his performance before asking for another four-year mandate.
Peter Obi’s media office also criticised the idea of relying on campaign surrogates, arguing that political allies cannot answer questions about the President’s policies or explain how they have affected ordinary citizens.
The exchange has added fresh energy to the political conversation ahead of 2027, with supporters of the opposition insisting that accountability should remain central to the election.
However, Tinubu’s position is that governance must continue alongside political mobilisation. His administration has maintained that the campaign council can communicate its policies while he continues handling the responsibilities of the presidency.
With the election still ahead, Nigerians are likely to hear more arguments about economic reforms, living costs, security and which candidate offers the most convincing plan for the country.
For voters, the bigger issue goes beyond who attends campaign rallies. They will ultimately want to know what each candidate has achieved, what has gone wrong and what they intend to do differently.
As the political temperature rises, one question remains: should a presidential candidate personally attend every campaign event, or is it enough to let party representatives carry the message?
