The Presidential Campaign Organisation of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has challenged President Bola Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if he is unwilling or unable to campaign across the country and defend his administration’s record before Nigerians.

The organisation accused Tinubu of avoiding the electorate over his alleged failure to fulfil promises made during the 2023 presidential campaign, following the President’s indication that he might not participate in campaign rallies across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Director of Strategic Communications of the campaign organisation, Richard Ihediwa, stated in a statement issued on Thursday that the President’s decision not to attend rallies nationwide demonstrated an unwillingness to confront public dissatisfaction with his administration’s performance.

The organisation described the decision as an affront to the electorate and a threat to democratic accountability, insisting that a president seeking re-election should be prepared to explain his policies and achievements directly to voters.

It argued that Tinubu’s position reinforced concerns about his administration’s performance and accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of being unwilling to face a credible electoral contest.

According to the organisation, the President’s claims that governance should take priority over campaign activities were unconvincing, given what it described as his frequent foreign trips and absence from the country’s governance challenges.

It maintained that a leader confident in his achievements should welcome the opportunity to engage Nigerians, defend his record and take responsibility for the country’s prevailing economic and security conditions.

The campaign organisation also criticised the Federal Government’s handling of electricity supply, alleging that power availability had deteriorated while electricity tariffs had increased under Tinubu’s administration.

It further blamed the President’s economic policies, including the removal of petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira, for worsening hardship among Nigerians, arguing that inadequate protection for vulnerable citizens had contributed to rising hunger, poverty and declining purchasing power.

On security, the organisation accused the Federal Government of failing to contain terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities, which it said had continued to threaten lives and property across the country.

It consequently insisted that Tinubu should not seek re-election without campaigning directly to Nigerians and accounting for his administration’s performance.

“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 organisation said, adding that Nigerians needed an energetic president capable of providing active leadership.

The organisation also promoted Makinde’s presidential ambition under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), describing him as a competent and resourceful alternative with a Reset Nigeria Agenda aimed at addressing the country’s security, economic and social challenges.

In a separate newsletter released on Thursday, Makinde criticised the Federal Government’s economic reforms, arguing that the success of government policies should be measured not only by improvements in economic indicators but also by their impact on the living conditions of ordinary citizens.