Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu over reports that the demands of governance may prevent him from actively participating in the campaign trail, insisting that the President cannot outsource the defence of his administration’s record to political allies.
In a signed statement released on Thursday, October 15, 2026, POMR spokesman Idris Zekeri Jnr argued that the Nigerian electorate deserves a direct engagement with the Commander-in-Chief rather than political proxies.
“President Bola Tinubu reportedly says the demands of governance may keep him away from the campaign trail. Nigerians deserve to ask: If he cannot make time to face the electorate, why should surrogates be sent to ask for their votes?” Zekeri asked.
The opposition movement emphasised that the ultimate responsibility for the country’s current trajectory lies solely with the President, noting that public officers must remain answerable to the citizens who elected them.
“The President cannot delegate accountability. He cannot outsource the defence of his record to political allies, party chieftains, and praise singers while millions of Nigerians struggle with the consequences of his government’s policies,” the statement read.
Addressing the limitations of using political messengers to interface with voters, Zekeri noted, “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. They can campaign in his name, but they cannot carry his responsibility.”
The POMR challenged the presidency to directly address the economic challenges facing the country, questioning the administration’s reluctance to confront the public if its reforms have truly yielded positive results.
“If the administration has delivered on its promises, why should the President be reluctant to defend that record before Nigerians himself? If the economy is improving, let him explain how that improvement is reflected in the cost of food, transportation, electricity, housing, and necessities. If his policies are working, let him face the citizens who want to know when the hardship will end,” the group stated.
The statement reminded the President that democratic governance inherently requires transparent dialogue with the populace during election cycles.
“Mr President, governance is not an excuse to avoid accountability. In a democracy, governance is the very record a candidate must defend before asking for another mandate. Nigerians are not being asked to elect your surrogates. They are being asked to assess you, your policies, your promises, and your performance. No surrogate can stand in your place when it is time to answer for the state of the nation,” the POMR added.
Warning against treating the electorate as a passive audience for rehearsed political communication, Zekeri concluded that seeking a public mandate requires personal courage and transparency.
“You cannot send surrogates to collect the votes while keeping the President away from the questions. You cannot delegate the campaign and expect Nigerians to forget who must answer for the record. The Nigerian people deserve a direct conversation with their President, not a relay of rehearsed talking points from political messengers.
“If there is a record to defend, let the President defend it. If there are promises yet to be fulfilled, let him explain them. And if Nigerians are being asked to renew his mandate, let him have the courage to face their questions. 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 statement concluded.
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