The Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation (MDPCO) has accused President Bola Tinubu of avoiding Nigerians ahead of the 2027 presidential election for fear of public rejection, urging him to campaign nationwide or withdraw from the race.
The organisation also described Tinubu’s reference to himself as “Governor Tinubu” during the inauguration of his presidential campaign council as evidence of alleged disorientation and unfitness to govern.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Director of Strategic Communications, Richard Ihediwa, the MDPCO accused the President of attempting to evade public anger over his administration’s performance.
It said Tinubu’s reported decision not to accompany his campaign council to every state was an affront to democratic principles and raised questions about his willingness to account for his record before the electorate.
“A president who believes he has performed well should be confident to defend his record before the people,” the organisation said, alleging that Tinubu had failed to fulfil his campaign promises.
The group cited worsening electricity supply, rising electricity tariffs, widespread poverty, hunger and insecurity as evidence of the administration’s alleged failures.
It blamed the removal of petrol subsidy, the floating of the naira and other economic policies for worsening hardship, claiming that millions of Nigerians had been pushed into poverty.
On security, the organisation accused the Tinubu administration of failing to curb terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes, which it said had claimed thousands of lives and left many citizens in captivity.
The MDPCO argued that Tinubu’s alleged reluctance to campaign directly across the country reflected fears of public resentment over the economic and security challenges confronting Nigerians.
It further expressed concern that the decision could signal an attempt by the ruling All Progressives Congress to undermine a free, fair and credible election, although it provided no evidence to substantiate the allegation.
The organisation insisted that the President must be prepared to defend his record before seeking another mandate, recalling his promise that Nigerians should not re-elect him in 2027 if he failed to fix the country’s electricity supply.
“If President Tinubu is so fatigued that he cannot go round the country to canvass for votes, then he should withdraw from the race,” the statement said.
The campaign organisation endorsed the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, describing him as a more energetic and competent alternative capable of addressing the country’s security, economic and social challenges through his proposed “reset Nigeria” agenda.
It claimed that Makinde had been meeting voters across the country and campaigning on his record and policy proposals.
The MDPCO maintained that the presidency was not an entitlement and urged Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 contest rather than risk public rejection.
