Politics
‘Tinubu Has Procured Proxies’ — Sam Amadi on President’s 2027 Campaign Strategy
Dr Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s approach to the 2027 presidential election, saying the president appears to be relying on state governors to make his case to Nigerians.
Amadi made the remarks during an appearance on Arise News Prime Time, where he discussed Tinubu’s political strategy, the challenges facing the country and the expected intensity of campaigns ahead of the 2027 general election.
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According to him, Tinubu’s apparent decision to limit his travels across the country may be a calculated political strategy, but he argued that it raises questions about governance and the president’s engagement with Nigerians.
“No doubt about it, this president’s age, frailty, we’ve seen that happen before, even in governance, he has not traveled across the country, he has not visited sites where there are tragedies,” Amadi said.
He added that the president’s approach could be understood as a strategy designed around his perceived strengths and weaknesses.
“I think, first, it’s a question of strategy, and strategy builds on your strength and weakness,” he said.
Amadi argued that the country’s economic situation makes it important for political leaders to explain their records to voters, regardless of their party affiliations.
“For example, just this week, the World Bank says we have the highest number of multidimensional poor people. So anyhow you look at it, whether you’re APC, PDP, or NDC, the facts are that this is a bad time in terms of economic outcomes,” he said.
Tinubu Relying on Governors, Says Amadi
The political analyst said second-term presidents typically travel across the country to defend their records and explain their policies to voters as they seek another mandate.
He suggested that Tinubu’s approach differs from that expectation because of the apparent reliance on political allies, particularly state governors.
“So in second term presidents usually go, you know, the whole course, they go down the road, they are hitting the road, making their case. Give explanations. And this president, you know, has procured proxies. You know, if you have 37 state governors, you’ve got good proxies,” Amadi said.
He added: “So tactically, he withdraws. That’s what it looks. The alibi around or the excuse around the weight of governors.”
Amadi maintained that governing and campaigning are not mutually exclusive, arguing that a president can continue to discharge official responsibilities while also engaging voters ahead of an election.
“Of course, presidents, as I say, you can chew gum and walk. Presidents govern. That’s why they have the cabinet, but they also make sure they campaign,” he said.
Amadi Raises Questions Over Opposition Campaigns
Amadi also discussed how political parties could approach the 2027 election, suggesting that their campaign strategies would be shaped by their respective strengths and weaknesses.
He said the ruling party would have to consider the intensity of the campaigns expected from opposition figures, including those associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.
“So each party will carve out strategy around how can we minimize our weakness, which is essentially that is the president who doesn’t have the energy to do this round, you know, round three,” he said.
Amadi further warned that the debate over Tinubu’s public appearances could become more consequential if opposition parties continued to raise questions about his engagement with voters.
He suggested that the issue could extend beyond nationwide campaign tours to include presidential television debates and opportunities for Nigerians to hear directly from the president.
“That’s where the strategy might be a bad one, because if the opposition, I suspect, drag this matter out, the question will now be, can the president also turn up for television debates? Can the president also willingly engage?” he asked.
Responding to the suggestion that television debates would not require extensive travelling, Amadi said direct engagement with voters could help address concerns about the president’s limited physical campaigning.
“So if he can get involved in actively talking to voters and answer their concern, that may compensate for less energy,” he said.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned the judiciary against allowing itself to be used to undermine democracy following the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The party expressed concern that the judgment, alongside other recent court decisions involving opposition parties, could weaken Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and restrict political participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, Esq. On Friday, the NDC said the manner in which some judgments, particularly those emanating from High Courts, were being delivered raised concerns about a possible attempt to exclude the ADC from the forthcoming elections.
While acknowledging the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, the party warned that court decisions capable of weakening opposition parties could create the impression that the judicial system was being used to frustrate democratic competition.
“The way some of these judgements are being churned out, especially from the High Courts suggests a deliberate effort to shut out the ADC from the forthcoming general elections by other means,” the statement read.
The NDC further argued that such developments could shrink the space for multi-party democracy, which it said was already facing significant threats under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party consequently urged the judiciary to safeguard its independence, impartiality and integrity, stressing the need to protect public confidence in the institution.
It also called on the ADC to appeal the judgment without delay, urging the appellate court to grant an accelerated hearing to ensure the leadership dispute does not linger ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to the NDC, resolving the matter promptly would prevent uncertainty from undermining democratic participation and the ability of political parties to prepare for the forthcoming polls.
The party concluded its statement with the declaration: “A New Nigeria is Possible!”
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly pressuring hotels in Abuja to deny the opposition party access to their facilities, describing the development as an attempt to undermine democratic participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party raised the allegation in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director on Thursday, who expressed concern over what it described as increasing attempts to restrict the democratic space and silence opposition voices.
According to the NDC, it has faced not only alleged violent attacks by agents of the ruling APC but also discrimination from hotels and hospitality businesses in Abuja.
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The party specifically accused Rockview Hotel of cancelling agreements to provide facilities for its meetings on two separate occasions.
The first incident, according to the statement, occurred in June 2026 when the hotel allegedly withdrew its agreement to host the party’s second National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting shortly before the scheduled event.
The NDC claimed that the hotel recently rejected another request to use its facilities for a meeting, allegedly informing the party that the decision came through an “order from above.”
The party also accused BON Hotel in Wuse, Abuja, of refusing to provide its facilities for a meeting despite the NDC claiming it had fulfilled all the conditions required.
The statement further alleged that the unveiling of the party’s National Campaign Council (NCC) was nearly disrupted after its event venue initially asked the party to refund its payment, saying it was no longer interested in making its facilities available.
The NDC suggested that the decision might have resulted from alleged threats or instructions from influential quarters.
However, the party said its insistence on using the facility after making payment eventually compelled the hotel to honour the arrangement.
Describing the alleged incidents as a threat to democratic participation, the NDC called on the APC to allow opposition parties to operate freely and campaign without interference.
“This is not democracy. The APC should allow all parties to campaign without let or hindrance, and give Nigerians the opportunity to make their choice on who governs them,” the statement said.
The party also urged Nigerians and supporters of democracy to call out Rockview Hotel and BON Hotel over what it described as their “anti-people and anti-democratic actions.”
Reaffirming its commitment to national development, the NDC declared that Nigerians deserved better governance and insisted that it was prepared to serve with passion and patriotism.
“Nigerians deserve better, and NDC is prepared to serve with passion and patriotism,” the statement added.
The party concluded with its declaration that “A New Nigeria is Possible.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating moves to weaken the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and frustrate his 2027 presidential ambition following a court judgment against the party’s leadership.
Atiku described the development as a calculated attempt to undermine the ADC, insisting that the timing of the judgment, which came barely a day after his campaign rally in Sokoto, was suspicious.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said the ruling party was unsettled by the growing support for his candidacy.
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The Federal High Court in Abuja had on Thursday, November 5, 2026, delivered a judgment affecting the leadership of the David Mark-led ADC, nullifying the party’s leadership structure and raising questions over the legitimacy of Atiku’s presidential candidacy.
Reacting to the ruling, Atiku alleged that the development was part of a broader strategy to weaken his political support, particularly in Northern Nigeria, and frustrate the ADC’s growing campaign.
“The timing of this judgment is no coincidence. It is part of a strategy to weaken my support in the North and frustrate a campaign whose message is resonating across the country,” he said.
He, however, maintained that his political ambition was not limited to Northern Nigeria, arguing that the economic hardship facing Nigerians cuts across regional boundaries.
“My roots are in Northern Nigeria, but my candidacy belongs to all Nigerians. There is a difference between being from the North and being a candidate only for the North,” Atiku stated.
The former vice president also linked the judgment to the massive turnout at the ADC presidential campaign launch in Sokoto on Wednesday, November 4, where supporters gathered to welcome him.
He said the reception demonstrated Nigerians’ desire for political change and confidence in the ADC’s promise to make life more affordable.
“What we witnessed in Sokoto is only the beginning. The people of Kebbi will have their say, and so will Nigerians across the country as our campaign moves forward,” he added.
Atiku also questioned the legal basis for reopening the dispute over the ADC leadership, recalling that Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court had earlier dismissed a challenge to the David Mark-led leadership in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
According to him, the earlier judgment upheld the defendants’ objections on jurisdiction, standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies, while resolving the substantive issues in their favour.
He questioned why another case was subsequently filed to reopen the same dispute, describing it as an attempt to circumvent an existing court judgment.
Atiku said the ADC would challenge the latest ruling at the Court of Appeal.
“We will challenge this judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal,” he declared.
Despite the legal setback, the ADC presidential candidate urged party supporters to remain calm, peaceful and committed to the campaign, insisting that the development would not derail the party’s political activities.
He said the ADC campaign train was already in Kebbi State and would continue its nationwide mobilisation.
“Our Affordable Life campaign will continue because Nigerians deserve relief from this crushing cost-of-living crisis,” Atiku said.
He also urged supporters to take the party’s message to Nigerians through house-to-house and door-to-door mobilisation, adding that the campaign remained focused on rescuing the country from economic hardship.
“There is no shaking,” he declared.
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