Tinubu must be wary of APC governors head of 2027 campaigns, Sambo warns

Arise News Director of News and Politics Editor, Sumner Sambo, has warned President Bola Tinubu to exercise caution in relying on some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors to manage his campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Sambo gave the warning following Tinubu’s announcement that he would not visit every state in the country during his campaign, a decision the journalist described as a potential weak point for the ruling party.

Tinubu reportedly made the announcement on Thursday during the inauguration of the APC campaign council, indicating that he would limit his campaign trips to selected states.

Reacting to the development, Sambo said the President’s decision could fuel opposition claims that he was either not physically strong enough to campaign nationwide or was avoiding voters’ anger over the country’s economic difficulties.

Speaking on Arise News, the political analyst said Tinubu should carefully assess the advice of his political advisers and the capacity of state governors and campaign officials entrusted with coordinating his re-election bid.

He said, “In terms of governance within the APC, it is actually a weak point for President Tinubu because, in 2019, you could see President Muhammadu Buhari going around the country.

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“He was able to visit two states a day in some instances, trying to prove to people that, despite claims that he was sick and would not be able to campaign, he could do so.”

Sambo noted that Buhari’s extensive campaign tours in 2019 allowed him to demonstrate his physical capacity to campaign while reaching voters across different parts of the country.

He also cited former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s campaign activities in 2003, arguing that previous Nigerian leaders had used nationwide tours to strengthen their political appeal.

According to him, comparing the campaign styles of Buhari and Tinubu could give the impression that the incumbent President was less willing to engage directly with voters.

However, Sambo acknowledged that limiting campaign trips was not necessarily unusual in international politics, citing United States President Donald Trump’s campaign strategy as an example of a candidate concentrating on strategically important states.

He explained that political campaigns could focus on areas considered crucial to securing victory rather than requiring candidates to visit every location.

Despite this, Sambo said Tinubu’s decision could provide ammunition for opposition parties seeking to question his fitness for office or portray him as disconnected from the economic hardship confronting Nigerians.

“Some people in the opposition have been saying that President Tinubu is not being truthful to the nation. They claim he is not physically strong enough to face the electorate. You would also have heard other political parties saying that he does not want to face voters’ anger because of the economic crisis we are going through,” he said.

The Arise News editor added that nationwide campaign tours could offer the President an opportunity to engage traditional rulers, interact with ordinary Nigerians and assess conditions in communities directly affected by insecurity and other challenges.

He argued that Buhari’s visits to states facing insurgency during the 2019 campaign provided opportunities for direct engagement with people and local stakeholders.

According to Sambo, Tinubu’s limited travels, including before the formal commencement of campaigning, could reduce opportunities for him to obtain firsthand information about developments across the country.

He therefore urged the President to be cautious about relying exclusively on reports and assurances from political associates, particularly governors responsible for coordinating campaign activities in their respective states.

“If he is going to visit only a few places, I would say that he should be very, very careful with some state governors and members of his campaign team,” Sambo warned.

He added that there were political considerations and underlying issues surrounding the campaign arrangements that could not be disclosed publicly at the moment.

The warning comes as the APC prepares for the 2027 general elections, with the President’s campaign strategy likely to attract scrutiny from opposition parties and political observers.

While a campaign itinerary does not necessarily determine an election’s outcome, the extent of a candidate’s engagement with voters, the performance of party structures and public perceptions of the administration could influence the ruling party’s prospects.

Tinubu’s decision to limit his campaign visits could therefore place greater responsibility on APC governors and campaign officials to mobilise supporters, communicate the administration’s achievements and address concerns among voters ahead of the elections.