2027: Tinubu Can’t Hide Behind Surrogates To Govern, Campaign By Proxy ------- Peter Obi’s Media Team

The Peter Obi Media Office has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s plan to limit his personal participation in the 2027 presidential campaign trail, noting that he cannot govern by proxy or rely on surrogates while seeking votes from Nigerians.⁠

Oct 16, 2026 - 20:24

2027: Tinubu Can’t Hide Behind Surrogates To Govern, Campaign By Proxy ------- Peter Obi’s Media Team

The Peter Obi Media Office has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s plan to limit his personal participation in the 2027 presidential campaign trail, noting that he cannot govern by proxy or rely on surrogates while seeking votes from Nigerians.⁠Globalupfront
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 15, 2026, signed by its spokesperson Idris Zekeri Jnr, the media office responded to Tinubu’s remarks during the inauguration of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja.
The president had said on the occasion that the demands of governance would prevent him from campaigning across all states and attending every rally, passing the bulk of the mobilisation work to the council while he prioritises running the country. ⁠
According to Tinubu, he had agreed with advice not to let campaign activities distract him from official assignments.
His words, “Nigeria needs more attention now than ever before. The responsibility of this office does not pause.

“We have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait. We want those investors to come in, be here to stay, to invest for the future of our children.”

He however, promised to talk Nigerians directly occasionally, even as the council leads efforts in states and local government areas.

But, reacting to the development, the Obi Media Office rejected Tinubu's claims over his busy schedule -approach, adding that Nigerians deserve to ask why surrogates should solicit votes if the president cannot make time to face them.

POMR noted that party bigwigs and political appointees or allies could campaign for Tinubu but could not answer for the consequences of his administration’s decisions.

Zekeri 's words, “You cannot govern by proxy, campaign through surrogates, and expect votes from Nigerians.
“Surrogates can speak for the President, but they cannot answer for his failures. They can repeat his promises, but they cannot make those promises a reality,.

“If the economy is improving, let him explain how that improvement is reflected in the cost of food, transportation, electricity, housing, and necessities.

“Nigerians are not being asked to elect your surrogates. They are being asked to assess you, your policies, your promises, and your performance.

“A President who seeks the people’s mandate must be prepared to face the people. Surrogates may carry the message, but they cannot carry the burden of accountability.”
The group then asked Tinubu to explain how his economic policies had improved the lives of Nigerians struggling with the high cost of food, transportation, electricity, housing, and other essentials, pointing out that if the administration believed its policies were working, the President should personally explain their benefits to citizens demanding answers about persistent hardship.
According to the Zekeri, Nigerians were being asked to assess Tinubu’s leadership, policies and promises, not those of the political officials campaigning on his behalf.
He furthermore, accused the Tinubu administration of risking a campaign in which political allies would promote his achievements without the President himself, answering questions directly about his performance, noting that a president seeking another mandate must be prepared to face voters and defend his record, regardless of how demanding the campaign might be.