Tinubu Need Not Attend Every APC Rally — Oshiomhole

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision not to attend every campaign rally ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He insisted that there is no contradiction between the President’s religious activities and his responsibility to govern the country.

Oshiomhole said Tinubu’s decision to limit his participation in campaign activities was a matter of choice and the prerogative of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

He stated this during an interview on Arise Television on Friday while responding to questions about the President’s planned absence from some APC campaign rallies and his spiritual activities in Mecca.

The former Edo State governor dismissed suggestions of inconsistency in the President’s position, saying there was no conflict between his religious obligations and his responsibility to govern.

“So, I don’t see what the contradiction is. There is none. He didn’t say, ‘I will stop worshipping God, I will stop praying so that I can constitute a governance,’” he said.

He argued that the President did not have to be physically present at every engagement to discharge his responsibilities.

“A president is not like a teacher who must be in the classroom. But even now, you can be taught online,” he said.

Oshiomhole also faulted the repeated questioning of the President’s decision, saying the issue had been discussed sufficiently and should no longer be a subject of debate.

He further argued that the APC had the right to determine how it wanted to organise its campaign and decide where the President would appear.

“Since you are not one of our supporters, you should be happy that the President is not going to go everywhere, and then you try to make a point out of that,” he said.

The exchange became tense as the senator accused the interviewer of repeatedly interrupting him.

“You ask questions, you interject, you interrupt. Look, I am well-travelled and I watch TV stations and I watch TV hosts. There is no contradiction,” he said.

He added, “It is our right, it’s our prerogative to decide where we go, where the President goes and where he doesn’t.”

Tinubu had earlier said he would not attend every APC campaign rally ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing the need to prioritise governance and the country’s other responsibilities.

The President said party members should take charge of mobilisation across the country, stressing that electioneering should not distract him from governing.