Tinubu Says He’ll Only Campaign in 12 States. His Reason Doesn’t Add Up

Home Quizzes Videos Categories Newsletters Skip to content Citizen Tinubu Says He’ll Only Campaign in 12 States. His Reason Doesn’t Add Up Tinubu says he cannot abandon governance to campaign nationwide, so his campaign team plans physical rallies in only 12 states.

On Saturday, October 24 2026, President Bola Tinubu launched his re-election campaign in Kaduna, where supporters gathered to hear him make the case for another four years in office. The rally marked the beginning of the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s campaign ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

The president’s campaign schedule, however, included something that has got Nigerians talking:   APC plans to hold rallies across the country, but Tinubu will attend events in only 12 states between October 2026 and January 2027. Party officials are expected to lead activities in the other states.

At the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council on October 14, Tinubu said his responsibilities as president would require him to remain focused on governance throughout the election period.

“Nigeria needs more attention now than ever before. The responsibility of this office does not pause,” he said. He added that the government had financial obligations to meet, saying, “The American creditors cannot wait.” 

The APC has defended the arrangement on similar grounds. Obafemi George, a member of the party’s presidential campaign communications team, said no law requires a presidential candidate to hold a rally in every state. He argued that the party could mobilise voters through its structures nationwide. 

That’s true. The party may organise rallies and communicate its message without the president attending every event. Governors, lawmakers and local party leaders can mobilise supporters, while television, radio and social media provide additional ways to reach voters.

However, a nationwide party campaign and a nationwide presidential tour are two different things. The APC’s schedule covers the country, but Tinubu’s personal appearances are concentrated in selected states.

The proposed itinerary includes Kaduna, Rivers, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos. The party says the plan is designed to cover Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and support grassroots mobilisation. 

The party’s explanation shows how the rallies will be spread across the country by geographical location. What it doesn’t do is explain why the president’s personal appearances should be restricted to those states or why party officials must handle the remaining 24.

The selection may also have potential political significance. Some of these states have large voting populations, while others matter because of local political alliances or the competition between parties. Presidential appearances could help the APC gather support in places where it already has a strong base or strengthen its position in states where the contest may be difficult.

The schedule, however, places greater responsibility on local party structures in states Tinubu is not expected to visit. Their task will be to communicate the administration’s record, explain its plans and convince voters to support them for another term.

Presidential rallies give candidates a platform to present their records, outline their plans and respond to public criticism. They also allow voters to see the candidate in person and hear how the campaign addresses concerns in their state.

Those concerns will vary across Nigeria. Communities affected by insecurity may want answers about the government’s response. Others may be more concerned about jobs, transport, education or the cost of living. A rally gives the candidate an opportunity to speak to those issues in a particular setting, although appearing before a crowd does not automatically mean engaging meaningfully with its concerns.

On October 14 2026, Tinubu said he would still make time to address Nigerians directly, even as campaign officials lead events in other states. 

The question is how that engagement will happen. Interviews, televised addresses and other public appearances can reach people across state boundaries, but voters may also want opportunities to hear the president physically address local concerns.

The Big Daily is your weekday shortcut to the biggest news shaping Nigeria. We cut through the noise, connect the dots, and explain why the news actually matters, all in one quick read.

Tinubu said he would skip some campaign rallies because the country’s governance needs his attention, the government has bills to pay, and foreign investors must be encouraged to commit to the country.

The governance argument invites scrutiny. Tinubu has been president since May 2023, and his administration has continued to undertake official trips abroad. As of August 31 2026, he had made 52 foreign trips, spending about 261 days abroad. Records also show the Presidency spent ₦37.6 billion on travel between 2023 and April 2026. 

His last working vacation was to Europe, and it lasted for about four weeks in August and September 2026. The Presidency said he remained in contact with developments at home during the trip and addressed the rumours about his health. 

If governing demands his attention now, Nigerians can reasonably ask how he has balanced those responsibilities over the past three years, and why a nationwide campaign would pose a particular problem in less than three months before an election.

The debt argument also has a factual basis. That’s because Nigeria is in a lot of debt, and creditors may soon be knocking on our doors. The Debt Management Office’s latest published figures put Nigeria’s external debt at roughly $54.5 billion as of June 30, 2026. The World Bank is a major creditor, while China’s Export-Import Bank is among Nigeria’s bilateral lenders. 

On September 28 2026, The Punch reported that the Federal Government was discussing three additional World Bank loans worth a combined $1.5 billion, covering climate resilience, social protection and early childhood development.

Tinubu’s reference to creditors and investors suggests he wants to keep economic and financial matters high on his agenda during the campaign. But the size of the debt alone does not establish that skipping rallies is necessary to manage it. The Presidency has not publicly linked any particular debt repayment or creditor meeting to his absence from any specific campaign event.

There is also speculation about the president’s health. His last extended stay in Europe prompted questions in September, but Tinubu publicly dismissed the rumours when he returned to Lagos on September 29, saying he was “healthy, sound, and ready to go.” 

Tinubu has chosen to limit his physical campaign appearances while continuing to govern. The APC intends to organise rallies nationwide, with party officials handling events the president is not scheduled to attend.

Voters should also expect the president to participate in presidential debates. Such debates would give him an opportunity to defend his administration’s record, explain his plans for another term and respond to questions from other candidates. They would also allow Nigerians to compare the candidates’ positions without requiring Tinubu to travel from state to state.

Voters can assess the campaign by looking at the quality of its engagement, the information it provides and how directly it addresses their concerns. They can also examine the administration’s record since 2023, including its economic decisions, security response and public service delivery.

A presidential campaign should give Nigerians the opportunity to assess what the incumbent has done and what he promises to do next. Tinubu’s limited schedule makes his participation in debates and other forms of direct engagement particularly important.

The president has explained why he does not intend to attend every rally. Whether the strategy gives voters across all 36 states a meaningful chance to assess his bid for a second term will depend on how the campaign carries it out.

Zikoko amplifies African youth culture by curating and creating smart and joyful content for young Africans and the world.