Senator Plang defends Tinubu’s campaign strategy

Senator Diket Plang

Senator Diket Plang

Says it’s unrealistic to campaign in all states

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From Jude Owuamanam, Jos

Senator Diket Plang, representing the Plateau Central senatorial zone, has defended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign strategy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said it is unrealistic for any politician to think that he or she can campaign in all the states of the federation.

Speaking to newsmen in his Jos country home, Plang addressed the concerns about President Tinubu’s fitness due to his stated inability to visit every location.

The senator challenged the definition of “going round,” arguing that no candidate can realistically visit every polling unit in the country. Moreover, Plang said that Tinubu’s track record had already spoken for him.

Plang effectively reframed the “fitness” narrative by questioning the logistical necessity of a candidate visiting every corner of the country and shifting the focus from the president’s physical health to the efficiency of the party’s campaign structure and delegation.

He said that campaigning is a matter of representation at various levels (geopolitical, state, or local) rather than physical presence at every single location.

The senator said that the opposition party’s criticisms, both regarding their own coalition efforts and the president’s campaign schedule, were tactical distractions that do not reflect the reality of the political landscape or the practicalities of national campaigning.

Plang asserted that the ruling party will maintain control over the majority of the country, including gubernatorial, national and state assembly seats, stating that the re-election of President Tinubu is a no-go area.

He said, “I want you to tell me the meaning of going round. If you would want to say a contestant will go round, then what do we mean by representation? I agree with the president that he does not need to go to every corner of the country because campaign should be by representation and that is the essence of setting up the presidential campaign council, which will go round and deliver the president. Every member of that council has a critical role to play. And moreover, the president’s sterling achievements have already spoken for him.

“Anybody who claims the capacity to go round the country should tell us whether he will visit every polling unit. I am waiting to see a presidential candidate who will go round all the polling units.”

Plang described the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections as a waste of time, arguing that they should have forged a stronger alliance before the conduct of primary elections by political parties.

Plang welcomed the Rainbow Coalition support for the president’s re-election, stating however that the coalition existed only in Abuja and not in Plateau.

He expressed confidence that the APC would win the presidency and majority of elective positions in Plateau as in other states in 2027.

“I am deeply convinced that APC will win the majority of the seats, whether in the governorship election, the National Assembly election or the State House of Assembly election.

“I pity the opposition coalition, because they came too late, especially as all the parties had already produced their candidates. Tell me who will step down for the other. So, it is more of a merger of convenience than a holistic coalition,” he said.

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