Adebayo said the country needed active and visible leadership to address its mounting socioeconomic challenges, insisting that Nigerians could not afford a president who was unavailable at critical moments.
In a press release dated October 14, 2026, and signed by Comrade Mark Adebayo, Chief Communications Adviser to the Adebayo-Bugaje Presidential Campaign, the SDP candidate accused Tinubu of governing from a distance and failing to provide the reassurance and decisive leadership expected of a president.
He argued that Nigeria’s complex political and economic circumstances required a leader who could engage directly with citizens and respond promptly to national concerns.
“Nigeria is too complex, too dynamic, and currently too distressed to be governed by remote control,” Adebayo said.
He alleged that the President had repeatedly been absent when Nigerians needed reassurance, citing what he described as foreign trips during critical economic decisions and silence during widespread regional protests.
“If you are too tired to campaign, you are too weak to govern,” he added.
Adebayo also suggested that Tinubu’s reported intention to stay away from the 2027 campaign trail could be linked to concerns about public anger over his administration’s policies.
He pointed to rising inflation, the removal of the petrol subsidy and currency instability as factors he claimed had increased economic hardship and weakened public confidence in the administration.
“The excuse of bowing out of the 2027 campaign is a cowardly smokescreen,” the SDP candidate said.
“The truth is that the President is terrified of the Nigerian people. He knows the pain his bad policies have inflicted on families across this country.”
Adebayo further alleged that Tinubu was avoiding direct engagement with Nigerians because of the anticipated backlash against his administration.
He claimed that public appearances during the campaign could expose the President to widespread criticism from citizens dissatisfied with the government’s performance.
“It is time to face reality: step aside, go home, and let this country breathe,” he said.
The SDP presidential candidate also criticised what he described as the administration’s reliance on proxies to communicate important government policies. He further alleged that the President’s reported medical trips and absences during national emergencies had contributed to a leadership vacuum.
According to Adebayo, the presidency had increasingly relied on press statements rather than direct engagement and effective action on pressing national issues.
He maintained that the country required leadership capable of addressing citizens’ concerns, explaining government decisions and taking responsibility for the consequences of public policies.
Adebayo consequently urged the Tinubu administration to place national interests above political considerations and provide transparency regarding the President’s capacity to discharge his responsibilities for the remainder of his tenure.
The criticism comes amid preparations by political parties and prospective candidates for the 2027 general election. Adebayo’s remarks add to the political debate over the Tinubu administration’s performance, economic policies and readiness for another electoral contest.
However, the claim that Tinubu intends to withdraw from or avoid the 2027 presidential campaign circuit was presented in the campaign statement as a report. The statement, as provided, does not establish that the President has formally announced such a decision.
