The Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress has urged Social Democratic Party presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo to focus on his party rather than criticise President Bola Tinubu’s decision to attend only selected campaign rallies.

Mr Adebayo had on Wednesday criticised Mr Tinubu over his plan to skip campaign rallies in some of the 36 states ahead of his re-election bid, arguing that a president too weak to campaign across the country is unfit to govern Nigeria.

“We have seen repeated instances where the president is visibly missing when the country needs reassurance. From unannounced foreign trips during critical economic decisions to his complete silence during widespread regional protests, he has consistently acted like a president in absentia.

“If you are too tired to campaign, you are too weak to govern. The excuse of bowing out of the 2027 campaign is a cowardly smokescreen. The truth is that the President is terrified of the Nigerian people,” the SDP candidate said.

In a statement on Thursday, Lagos APC spokesperson Seye Oladejo advised Mr Adebayo to concentrate on SDP’s presidential election campaign, describing his remarks as another attempt by opposition parties to manufacture controversy.

“Ordinarily, one would expect opposition politicians to be preoccupied with building credible political structures, articulating workable alternatives and persuading Nigerians that they possess the competence to govern.

“Instead, we are confronted with another episode of manufactured controversy, in which the opposition seeks to turn a legitimate political decision into a subject of needless agitation,” the APC said.

According to APC, Mr Tinubu does not need to be physically present at every campaign rally to establish himself as a strong candidate, noting that the president has national duties that require his constant attention.

“President Tinubu does not need to be physically present at every campaign event to establish his credentials. His record in office, political pedigree, national reach and demonstrated capacity to provide leadership speak volumes. His approach to the 2027 campaign should be understood within the context of his responsibilities as president and his confidence in the formidable political machinery of the APC,” the party explained.

The APC added that Mr Tinubu’s decision reflected his trust in his campaign team and his reliance on seasoned political allies to coordinate campaign activities and deliver on assigned responsibilities.