Nigeria: Atiku, Obi Only Campaigning On Facebook, Tinubu Says

What the report says

President Bola Tinubu, speaking through Vice-President Kashim Shettima at an All Progressives Congress campaign rally in Akure, Ondo State, used the event to attack opposition figures Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi as the country looks toward the 2027 presidential election. According to Daily Trust, Tinubu argued that the opposition had not shown enough political reach, saying their campaigning was largely confined to social media while the APC was building support nationwide.

He specifically questioned Atiku’s standing in his home state of Adamawa, saying political leaders there were not aligned with him and suggesting that this reflected weakness as a national candidate. Tinubu also dismissed Obi’s record, saying the former Anambra governor lacked meaningful achievements that would persuade voters. The remarks were framed as part of a broader push by the ruling party to contrast its grassroots mobilization with what it portrays as a weaker opposition presence.

The president cited turnout at APC rallies in several states, including Ondo, as evidence of the party’s momentum. He also urged APC leaders in Ondo to set aside internal differences and work together. Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who is coordinating the campaign in the state, said the party aimed to deliver one million votes for Tinubu, while APC national chairman Nentawe Yilwatda highlighted the state’s representation in the federal cabinet. The rally underscores how early campaign messaging is already shaping the rivalry between the APC and opposition camps.