Mixed reactions trail Tinubu’s decision to skip APC rallies

By Faith Eluu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision not to attend every campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general election has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians.

The president, during the inauguration of the party’s presidential campaign council, explained that he needed to concentrate on governing the country rather than be at every campaign rally.

A Lagos resident, simply identified as Patrick, faulted the President’s absence.

“There is no reason for him to be absent from his own campaign. By ignoring it, it clearly shows that the president does not have time for the people,” he said.

Mercy Eluche, said the president’s absence may not affect his electoral chances.

“In all honesty, I don’t think his absence will spoil his chances of winning the election. His posters are already on the streets and his name is on the mind of millions of Nigerians, whether in a positive or negative light,” she said, adding that many Nigerians remain frustrated with the current state of the country.

“Every day Nigerians lament the unfortunate state of affairs, so whether or not he is present to campaign might not matter much because the average Nigerian isn’t pleased with his government.

Grassroots support is important because it makes citizens feel closer to the president, and his absence leaves a gap that other candidates can capitalise on.”

Another citizen, Tochukwu Eze, a security guard, defended the president’s decision, noting that the role of state governors can make up for his absence.

“There are 31 APC state governors, so the president’s presence may not be needed at rallies. The governors in charge of those states should handle the campaigns while he focuses on his duties,” he said.

Anthony Kehinde, a business man in Lagos however, urged the president to strike a balance between his official duties and his presidential campaign.

“As President, he should be able to balance rallies, campaigns and governance,” he said.

Also speaking, Kenechukwu Onyia, a resident of Anambra state, said it was not compulsory for the president to attend all campaigns.

“It’s not a must that as president he should attend campaigns. He can hand it over to party leaders. But he should focus on his duties as president because it’s still very essential, and also attend his party campaign to create more awareness.”