The council described the reported position as disrespectful to the electorate, arguing that a president seeking re-election should be willing to meet voters, account for his administration’s performance and explain his plans for the country.
The ADC-PCC also declared that its presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, was prepared to campaign across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to seek the support of voters.
The council’s Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, made the remarks while receiving a delegation of youths under the aegis of Young Voters for Atiku (YVA), according to a statement issued by the council on Friday.
Ologbondiyan argued that Tinubu’s reported reluctance to undertake a nationwide campaign could benefit the opposition, alleging that the president was avoiding direct engagement with Nigerians because of growing dissatisfaction with his administration.
“What President Tinubu has done is a clear act of contempt against the Nigerian people. The APC is known for its contempt for Nigerians,” he said.
He questioned why a president seeking another term would reportedly be unwilling to visit voters and defend his record in office.
“How can a man who wants to be re-elected as president, after failing woefully, say he does not want to visit the people he seeks to govern? It is an aberration of the norm,” Ologbondiyan said.
The ADC-PCC spokesman also dismissed suggestions that official responsibilities could prevent Tinubu from campaigning across the country. He cited former Nigerian presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, as well as American presidential candidates, arguing that public duties had not prevented previous leaders and candidates from participating in election campaigns.
“Saying that he (Tinubu) will be attending to official assignments is untrue, fake, deceitful, and insincere. Didn’t former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari attend to official duties while campaigning for their return tickets? Didn’t Donald Trump campaign? Didn’t Kamala Harris campaign? Why is Tinubu’s case different?” he queried.
Ologbondiyan further alleged that the president was taking Nigerians for granted, insisting that anyone seeking another presidential term should be prepared to engage directly with the electorate.
“President Tinubu has taken Nigerians for a joke and should not seek re-election. A president who is afraid to face his own people has no business asking for their votes,” he said.
He also attributed the president’s reported position to public dissatisfaction over hunger, poverty, insecurity and economic hardship. These, he claimed, were among the issues Tinubu would have to address if he embarked on a nationwide campaign.
“He knows Nigerians are hungry and angry. He knows that the average Nigerian finds it difficult to eat and to be secure. He has failed on all fronts, so he is afraid to face Nigerians. He is running away from the reality he created,” Ologbondiyan alleged.
In contrast, the ADC-PCC said Atiku was ready to travel across the country to present his manifesto and engage voters on the challenges confronting Nigeria.
Ologbondiyan described the former vice president as physically energetic and mentally alert, expressing confidence in his ability to undertake a nationwide campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to the council, Atiku’s proposed agenda would focus on economic recovery, wealth creation, national security and improving the living standards of Nigerians.
“Atiku Abubakar will bring back subsidy to reduce the cost of petroleum products, create wealth, end hunger in our land, secure our nation and restore our battered economy,” Ologbondiyan said.
“He has the experience, the capacity and the compassion to rescue Nigeria. He is fit, ready and prepared to lead Nigeria out of this present predicament,” he added.
The ADC-PCC also appealed to young Nigerians to reject the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general election, arguing that another term for the party would prolong the economic difficulties confronting citizens.
Ologbondiyan urged young voters to mobilise against the ruling party, presenting the forthcoming election as an opportunity to demand a change in leadership and policy direction.
“I appeal to every young Nigerian to reject them. Let us collectively reject hunger, reject poverty, reject hardship and reject insecurity. The APC has brought only pain to Nigerians. It is time to say enough is enough,” he said.
The council further claimed that the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council had strengthened the ADC politically. It alleged that the event did not attract endorsements from ADC members or sympathisers.
The remarks form part of the ADC-PCC’s early political messaging ahead of the 2027 general election, with the opposition council seeking to contrast Atiku’s stated campaign readiness and policy promises with its criticisms of Tinubu’s administration.
The reported position on Tinubu’s campaign schedule, as well as the ADC-PCC’s claims about public dissatisfaction and the political implications of the APC campaign council’s inauguration, were presented by the opposition body and were not independently established in the statement.
