Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has described the expanded presidential campaign council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a “confession of fear”.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accused President Bola Tinubu of prioritising political alliances over the economic hardship and insecurity facing Nigerians.
He said the revised council’s size suggested that Tinubu was more concerned with assembling political figures than addressing the difficulties Nigerians had endured under his administration.
Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun; and Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, were among those included in the APC’s expanded presidential campaign council for the 2027 general election.
The APC initially released the list on August 22, appointing Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara, as director-general.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication of the ADC presidential campaign council, Atiku said the appointments would do little to ease the effect of hunger, violence and kidnappings on Nigerians.
“Only a man afraid of his record would think he could bury it under hundreds of names,” the statement reads.
“Tinubu can gather every governor, minister and political defector in Nigeria. None of them can erase the hunger in people’s homes, bring back those killed by violence or free Nigerians still held captive. Their families are waiting for answers, not another campaign list.”
The ADC presidential candidate also accused Tinubu of prioritising his political machinery over Nigerians struggling with the rising cost of living.
“Tinubu has room for an army of ministers and a stadium full of campaign officials, but no room in his plans for Nigerians crushed by the cost of living. He feeds his political machine and tells hungry families to sacrifice,” he said.
Atiku added that the expanded campaign council would not change Nigerians’ lived experiences under Tinubu’s administration.
‘USING PRESIDENTIAL VILLA FOR COUNCIL INAUGURATION IS ABUSE OF PUBLIC OFFICE’
Atiku also criticised the decision to inaugurate the APC campaign council at the Presidential Villa, arguing that the venue, as public property, should not be used for partisan political activities.
“The Presidential Villa belongs to the Nigerian people. It is not a campaign venue or the private property of any political party. Using it for an APC political event is a gross breach of public trust and a troubling abuse of public office,” he said.
He questioned the choice of venue, noting that other locations were available in Abuja.
“Abuja has no shortage of halls and public spaces large enough to host a campaign gathering. Why, then, did Bola Tinubu choose to inaugurate his campaign council at night, behind the gates of the Presidential Villa?” he asked.
Atiku said the decision raised questions about the administration’s confidence in its record, adding that Nigerians should judge the president based on their experiences under his government.
“Nigerians may draw their own conclusions. But a president confident in his record should be willing to face the public in daylight and ask for another mandate,” he said.
He added that the promise of renewed hope had given way to hardship and disappointment for many Nigerians.
‘NO CAMPAIGN COUNCIL CAN SHIELD TINUBU FROM PUBLIC JUDGMENT’
Atiku described the expanded campaign council as an attempt to shield the president from criticism by bringing more political figures into his campaign structure.
“When the first list drew criticism, Tinubu had a chance to show that he understood the country’s anger. Instead, he returned with an even longer list, reaching into other parties for more names. He is collecting politicians like shields against public judgment,” he said.
The ADC presidential candidate also cited a claim that 17.9 million more Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty, linking the alleged increase to the economic and security challenges confronting the country.
He said the number of political figures on Tinubu’s campaign council would not address the rising cost of living or restore citizens’ purchasing power.
“No campaign council, however crowded, can make food affordable, restore a worker’s purchasing power or explain why the sacrifices demanded of ordinary Nigerians never seem to reach Tinubu’s own political circle,” he said.
Atiku said the ADC had assembled its own campaign team to present an alternative to Nigerians, adding that voters would judge the president by their living conditions.
“On January 16, the ballot will contain no column for the size of a campaign council. Nigerians will judge Tinubu by the lives they have lived under his government,” he added.
