President Bola Tinubu is expected to miss campaign rallies in more than 20 states as the All Progressives Congress (APC) begins its nationwide campaign for the 2027 presidential election, with party leaders and members of the campaign council scheduled to represent him in his absence.

According to a campaign timetable released by the APC on Thursday and obtained by Daily Trust, the campaign will commence in Kaduna State on October 24, 2026, with Tinubu scheduled to attend rallies in 12 states while other party leaders cover the remaining states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The schedule indicates that the President will be absent from rallies in Cross River on November 2, Gombe on November 3, Nasarawa on November 4, Ekiti on November 5, Ebonyi on November 9, Jigawa on November 10, Ondo on November 11 and Edo on November 12. He is, however, expected to participate in the Rivers rally on November 7.

Tinubu is also scheduled to miss campaign rallies in Yobe on November 16, Kebbi on November 17, Akwa Ibom on November 18, Anambra on November 19 and Benue on November 30.

The President is expected to participate in rallies in Oyo on November 21, Borno on November 25, Enugu on November 28 and Bauchi on November 29.

Other rallies are scheduled for Sokoto on December 5, Delta on December 12 and Kano on December 17, while his final two scheduled appearances are in Adamawa on January 4 and Lagos on January 9, 2027.

The timetable provides for APC leaders to represent the President at rallies in the remaining 12 states scheduled for December, in addition to the Federal Capital Territory.

Tinubu had earlier explained that he would not attend every campaign rally because he needed to balance his campaign commitments with his responsibilities as President.

Speaking on Wednesday at the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Tinubu said the country still needed to be governed, indicating that his official responsibilities would limit his participation in some campaign activities.

He, however, pledged to make time to address Nigerians directly as APC leaders canvass support for his re-election across states and local government areas.

The planned absences have drawn criticism from opposition figures, with the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) challenging the President to attend rallies in all states or withdraw from the presidential race.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, one of the leading opposition figures ahead of the 2027 election, also alleged that Tinubu was avoiding direct engagement with voters because of his administration's performance.

In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku questioned the President's justification for missing campaign rallies on the grounds of governance.

“Tinubu says he may miss campaign rallies because Nigeria needs his attention. Where was that urgency when Nigerians pleaded for relief?” Atiku asked.

He argued that the President had spent three and a half years in office, during which many Nigerians had struggled with rising living costs, reduced purchasing power and difficulties meeting essential needs.

“Now he wants another mandate. Before asking Nigerians for one, he must face them and account for the first term,” Atiku said.

The controversy over Tinubu's campaign schedule comes as political parties prepare to intensify their mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the President's planned appearances and absences likely to feature prominently in the opposition's assessment of his re-election bid.