Baring last-minute change in plans, leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will represent President Bola Tinubu in more than 20 States during the reelection campaign which will kick off in Kaduna, on October 24, 2026.
This is according to the party’s campaign schedule released late Thursday.
In a copy of the schedule sighted by Daily Trust, Tinubu would take a break from the campaign on November 2 when the trail lands in Cross River, absent from Gombe on November 3, Nasarawa on November 4, Ekiti on November 5, but join the campaign in Rivers on November 7.
The President will be absent from Ebonyi on November 9, Jigawa on November 10, Ondo on November 11, Edo on November 12, then return to Plateau on November 14, absent from Yobe on November 16, Kebbi on November 17, Akwa Ibom on November 18, Anambra on November 19.
The schedule shows that Tinubu would join the campaign rally in Oyo on November 21; move to rallies in Borno, Enugu and Bauchi on November 25, 28 and 29, respectively, but absent from Benue on November 30.
The president is expected to continue his campaign tour in December, with rallies scheduled for Sokoto on December 5, Delta on December 12 and Kano on December 17.
His final two scheduled appearances are in Adamawa on January 4 and Lagos on January 9, while other party leaders are expected to represent him at rallies in the remaining 12 states scheduled for December.
Overall, the timetable provides for Tinubu to personally attend campaign rallies in 12 states, with the party relying on its leaders and campaign council members to cover the other states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Tinubu had earlier explained that he would not attend every APC campaign rally, citing the need to balance campaigning with governance.
Speaking on Wednesday at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the president said there was a country to run, indicating that his responsibilities as head of government would limit his participation in some campaign activities.
He, however, pledged to make time to address Nigerians directly as party leaders move across states and local government areas to canvass support for his re-election.
But the opposition attributed the planned absence to the President’s health, with the Allied Peoples Movement asking him to campaign in all states or withdraw from the Presidential race.
On his part, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who is one of the leading Presidential frontrunners for next year’s election, alleged that Tinubu was afraid to stand before the people because of his scorecard.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said: “Tinubu says he may miss campaign rallies because Nigeria needs his attention. Where was that urgency when Nigerians pleaded for relief? He has had three and a half years to govern. In that time, families have been forced to cut meals, postpone medical care and watch their earnings lose value before they get home.
“Now he wants another mandate. Before asking Nigerians for one, he must face them and account for the first term.”
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