2027: Talk to Nigerians directly, Obi’s office challenges Tinubu
The Peter Obi Media Office has challenged President Bola Tinubu to personally engage Nigerians as he seeks re-election in the January 16, 2027, presidential election, warning against what it described as “proxy campaigns.”
In a statement Tuesday titled “No more Proxy Campaigns, Nigeria. The President Should be a servant-leader, not a demigod,” the media office accused Tinubu of positioning himself for a second term without directly meeting the electorate.
The office alleged that “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is positioning himself to be re-elected for a second term without meeting the electorate,” adding that there were indications that the President planned to remain in Aso Rock while surrogates campaigned on his behalf.
“Indications are evident that the President plans to hide in Aso Rock and expect hired surrogates to meet the people on his behalf. This is not democracy and must be rejected by the people,” the statement said.
According to the media office, while Tinubu could use surrogates for certain official duties, he could not delegate the responsibility of directly engaging Nigerians whose votes he would be seeking.
“President Tinubu can deploy surrogates to speak for him, sign documents on his behalf, or represent him at some public events, but he cannot send a surrogate to meet the Nigerian people on his behalf,” it said.
The group argued that the 2027 election should be a direct contest among presidential candidates based on their records, competence, ideas and character.
“The 2027 election is not a ceremony to be performed by representatives. It is a contest for the leadership of more than 200 million Nigerians, and those seeking the mandate must have the courage to stand before the people, answer their questions, and defend their records,” the statement said.
It also criticised Tinubu for being absent from the National Peace Accord convened by the National Peace Committee under the leadership of former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
“At the National Peace Accord convened by the National Peace Committee under the leadership of former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the President was missing, disrespecting the painstaking work of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, and others in promoting peaceful elections,” it said.
The Peter Obi Media Office maintained that Nigerians deserved direct access to presidential candidates, particularly on major national platforms such as the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association conference.
“The Nigerian people need to see the candidate. They need to hear the candidate. They need to question the candidate,” the group said.
It added that Tinubu should personally account for the performance of his administration if he was asking Nigerians to renew his mandate.
“A President asking Nigerians for another four years cannot permanently hide behind ministers, party officials, media aides, governors, or other political surrogates. The office belongs to the people; the mandate belongs to the people; and the accountability must be directly to the people,” the statement said.
The group challenged the President to explain his administration’s record on the economy, the hardship facing Nigerians and the policies implemented since he assumed office in 2023.
“If the President believes his administration has performed well, let him come before Nigerians and say so himself,” it said.
“Let him explain the economy. Let him explain the hardship confronting families. Let him explain his policies.
“Let the candidate explain what has changed since 2023. Let him tell Nigerians what he intends to do differently in a second term.
“And let him hear directly from the citizens whose votes he seeks.”
The media office stressed that its demand was part of democratic accountability rather than disrespect for the President.
“This is not disrespect. It is democracy,” it said, while challenging Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress to abandon what it described as surrogate-driven campaigning.
“We, therefore, challenge the President and the APC to stop campaigning through surrogates and start engaging the Nigerian people directly,” the statement added.
The group concluded by calling for a 2027 presidential election centred on the candidates themselves rather than their supporters and representatives.
“The 2027 election must be a contest of candidates, competence, records, ideas, and character — not a contest of who can deploy the loudest army of surrogates.”
It declared: “No more proxy campaigns. No more presidential hide-and-seek.”
“If President Tinubu wants a second term, let him come to the people,” the statement said.
“Let him see and hear the people. And let Nigerians question him and decide — not on the voices of his surrogates, but on the record and vision of the man asking for their votes.”
“This is the spirit of democracy. We are electing a servant of the people, not a demigod,” it added.
