President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that governance will not take a backseat to electioneering ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Tinubu gave the assurance on Wednesday while inaugurating the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) at the State House, Abuja.
He said the responsibilities of his office would continue uninterrupted, stressing that the country required sustained attention to its pressing national priorities.
“The responsibility of this office does not pause,” the president declared.
Tinubu said he would continue engaging Nigerians on his administration’s achievements and development agenda but would leave the Council to coordinate campaign activities across states and local government areas.
“I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians, even as you lead the campaign in the states and local government areas.
“So you will excuse me from going everywhere with you. We have bills to pay,” he said.
The President said the government had financial obligations to meet and needed to attract investors to support the country’s economic growth and future development.
“The job must go on. We have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait. We want those investors to come in, be here to stay, to invest for the future of our children,” Tinubu said.
He declared the APC ready for the 2027 elections, describing the inauguration as a renewal of the party’s commitment to Nigerians and its responsibilities as the governing party.
“The APC is ready. We have not gathered merely to inaugurate a council.
“We have gathered to renew a covenant, a covenant with Nigerian people and the historic responsibility they have entrusted to us as Nigeria’s governing party.
“We promise we will not let them down,” he said.
Tinubu urged members of the Council to take the party’s vision, record of achievements and development agenda to Nigerians across the country, including communities and wards.
“Let the word go out from this hall to every corner of our nation. The APC is ready.
He charged party members to remain steadfast in nation-building, citing his record as Lagos governor, when he spearheaded measures to tackle the looming threat of Atlantic Ocean flooding.
“There is no limit to daring. You must dare, you must be determined,” he said.
The President also cautioned APC governors, lawmakers and other party leaders against taking previous electoral efforts for granted, urging them to demonstrate commitment ahead of the 2027 elections.
The event was witnessed by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abass, governors, top politicians, and APC youth and women groups, among other dignitaries.
The APC Presidential Campaign Council, led by Director-General Sen. Abdulaziz Yari, is set to kick off its presidential campaign in Kaduna on October 24.
