The APC Presidential Campaign Council and the Crisis of Political Decency: When Leadership Forgets the People

                                   

President Bola Tinubu

Nigeria's political leadership faces a fundamental question. At a time when citizens are struggling with the rising cost of living and the consequences of economic hardship, what should command the attention of a governing party? The management of political image and internal disagreements, or the urgent relief of citizens' suffering?

This question provides a useful framework for examining the reported controversies surrounding the APC's presidential campaign organisation, the conduct of party leadership, and the competing political messages emerging ahead of the 2027 elections.

The distinction is important. Political parties have a legitimate responsibility to organise, mobilise support and defend their records. However, those responsibilities exist alongside the obligation to respond to citizens' economic realities and engage in public debate with civility.

These issues would be examined through documented developments, the government's policy record, and proposals attributed to Atiku Abubakar, while distinguishing verifiable facts from political interpretation.

The APC Presidential Campaign Council: A Machinery of Political Mobilisation

The All Progressives Congress formally unveiled its 2027 Presidential Campaign Council on August 22, 2026. The announced structure places President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as chairman, Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda as vice chairmen, and former Zamfara State Governor Senator Abdulaziz Yari as Director-General.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State was appointed secretary, while several senior political figures received responsibilities covering mobilisation, administration, election planning, logistics, parliamentary engagement and regional coordination. The reported council also includes an advisory body featuring figures such as Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Segun Osoba, Senator Rochas Okorocha and Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

The council's composition reflects the importance the ruling party attaches to electoral organisation and the consolidation of its political machinery.

Yet a campaign council is more than an administrative structure. It is also a public statement of priorities. Its language, conduct and policy messaging will influence how citizens interpret the government's understanding of their circumstances.

The central question is therefore not whether the APC has the right to campaign. It does. The question is whether its campaign will meaningfully address the lived experiences of Nigerians.

A sophisticated campaign organisation should be capable of defending government achievements while acknowledging shortcomings, responding to criticism with evidence and presenting credible solutions to unresolved problems.

When Political Competition Overshadows Public Responsibility

A democracy permits vigorous political competition. Opposition parties are entitled to scrutinise government policies, and governing parties are entitled to defend their records. However, public discourse becomes less useful when political energy is consumed by personal exchanges rather than substantive policy disagreements.

The controversy over how political leaders address President Tinubu illustrates a broader issue that deserves attention: the distinction between political informality and institutional respect.

Addressing a political leader by a first name is not a proof of misconduct. In some settings, it may reflect familiarity, political convention or deliberate rhetorical positioning. The significance depends on context, intention and the norms of the setting.

The more important issue is whether political communication maintains respect for the office, the citizenry and the democratic process. Criticism can be forceful without becoming personally degrading. Political disagreement can be sharp without abandoning civility.

The APC and its campaign leadership should therefore be judged by the substance and consequences of their public communication, rather than by the mere use of a first name.

A governing party carries a special responsibility to demonstrate that political power is exercised with restraint, accountability and regard for the public interest.

The Economic Hardship Question Cannot Be Avoided

The economic consequences of government policy should remain central to the 2027 political conversation.

The removal of petrol subsidies, changes in energy pricing and the associated pressures on transport and household expenditure have generated sustained public debate. The administration has defended its reforms as necessary for fiscal sustainability and economic restructuring, while citizens and critics have raised concerns about affordability and the distribution of the adjustment burden.

On September 19, 2026, President Tinubu reiterated that the government would not return to the previous fuel subsidy regime and directed efforts toward reducing transportation costs through the National Affordable CNG Transit Programme. The stated objective was for savings from cheaper energy to translate into lower fares.

These measures provide a basis for assessing government performance. The relevant questions include:

Are transport costs falling for ordinary citizens?

Are food prices and household expenses becoming more manageable?

Are wage earners, small businesses and vulnerable households receiving meaningful relief?

Are public revenues being converted into services and opportunities that citizens can experience?

Are the government's economic reforms accompanied by sufficient transparency and social protection?

The answers should be based on measurable outcomes rather than campaign slogans.

A government cannot adequately respond to economic hardship through political messaging alone. Its credibility ultimately depends on whether its policies improve the material conditions of the people.

 Atiku Abubakar's Intervention: A Policy Debate That Deserves Attention

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, has called for measures to reduce petrol and diesel prices and proposed a production subsidy for locally refined petroleum products.

The APC Presidential Campaign Council, through its spokesperson Dele Alake, responded on September 20, 2026, questioning the legal foundation, funding arrangements and practical operation of Atiku's proposal. The council referenced Section 205(1) of the Petroleum Industry Act and raised concerns about whether subsidies would guarantee lower retail prices.

This exchange illustrates how economic policy should be debated: through questions about cost, legality, implementation and public benefit.

However, the existence of legitimate questions about a proposal should not become an excuse for avoiding the underlying problem. Nigerians need affordable energy, reliable transportation and economic opportunities, regardless of which political party proposes the intervention.

Atiku's return of subsidy proposal should therefore be given serious consideration. The critical consideration is whether the proposed measure can produce verifiable improvements for households and businesses without creating unsustainable fiscal burdens.

From political response to substantive engagement

The APC could strengthen public confidence by addressing the following:

What specific measures will reduce the cost of living within a defined timeframe?

How will the government protect vulnerable citizens during economic reforms?

What mechanisms will prevent leakages, corruption and ineffective subsidy administration?

How will the government measure the success of its transport, energy and social intervention programmes?

What policy alternatives does the party offer when opposition proposals identify genuine public concerns?

These are questions that transcend individual personalities and political parties.

The Politics of Distraction and the Responsibility of Incumbency

The governing party has access to the machinery of government, policy information and institutional resources unavailable to ordinary opposition organisations. This creates a heightened responsibility to explain and defend public policy.

When political discussions become dominated by personal exchanges, the risk is that essential policy questions receive insufficient attention.

It would be unfair to conclude that every response from the APC is a deliberate attempt to distract Nigerians. Parties may legitimately challenge proposals they consider impractical or legally defective. Nevertheless, a campaign's overall priorities can be examined by observing the balance between personal rhetoric, policy defence and concrete solutions.

The APC should ensure that political communication does not overshadow the practical responsibility of governing.

The party's response to economic criticism should include more than defending its record. It should demonstrate an understanding of the concerns being raised and explain what additional steps it intends to take.

A government that seeks electoral support must be prepared to account for both its achievements and the continuing consequences of its decisions.

Respect for Political Office and the Culture of Democratic Decency

The Nigerian political environment has frequently witnessed confrontational language, personal attacks and disputes over political status. These tendencies are not confined to one party or one politician.

A healthy democracy requires the capacity to disagree without treating disagreement as an offence against personal dignity.

The President deserves respect as the holder of the nation's highest executive office. Opposition leaders likewise deserve the opportunity to criticise government policy without being subjected to personal vilification.

Respect does not mean immunity from scrutiny. Neither does criticism require disrespect. A mature political culture should make it possible to say:

The President's policy is ineffective, and here is the evidence.

The opposition's proposal is financially unsustainable, and here is the analysis.

The government has achieved a measurable result, and here is the supporting data.

Citizens continue to suffer, and here are the corrective measures required.

This is the language of democratic accountability.

The APC's leadership, as well as its political opponents, should recognise that the dignity of public institutions is strengthened by the quality of political debate.

What Nigerians Should Expect from the 2027 Campaign

The 2027 presidential campaign should not become an extended contest of personalities, insults and political theatrics.

Citizens have legitimate interests in the direction of the economy, the cost of education, employment, security, public infrastructure, healthcare and the protection of vulnerable households.

Political parties should present clear and testable commitments in these areas.

The APC, as the governing party, has an opportunity to explain how its economic reforms will translate into tangible improvements. Opposition parties, including the ADC, should likewise be expected to provide detailed and financially credible alternatives.

The electorate should be able to compare:

Policy area	Questions for public debate
Cost of living	How will food, transport and essential household costs be addressed?
Energy	What approach will ensure affordability and sustainable supply?
Employment	How will policies create productive and decent work?
Education	How will families and students access affordable, quality education?
Social protection	Who qualifies for assistance, and how will delivery be verified?
Governance	What safeguards will prevent corruption and strengthen accountability?

 These questions offer a more substantive foundation for democratic choice than personal exchanges between political actors.

A Direct Message to the APC Leadership

The All Progressives Congress should recognise that the strength of its campaign will be measured not merely by the size of its council, the prominence of its members or the volume of its political messaging.

Its public credibility will also be examined through the government's response to hardship, the transparency of its decisions and the quality of its engagement with critics.

The party should listen carefully to concerns expressed by Atiku Abubakar and other opposition figures when those concerns relate to real economic difficulties. Listening does not require accepting every proposal. It requires examining the substance of the argument and responding with evidence.

If Atiku proposes a production subsidy, the APC should explain the legal and fiscal issues while offering its own workable approach to energy affordability. If Atiku raises concerns about the cost of education or the welfare of Nigerians, the governing party should address those issues with measurable policies.

The appropriate response to a policy challenge is a stronger policy explanation, not merely a stronger political retort.

Nigeria needs political leaders who understand that public office is a responsibility before it is an electoral advantage.

Conclusion: Let the People Remain the Centre of Politics

The formation of the APC Presidential Campaign Council signals the intensification of political preparation for the 2027 elections. Its structure demonstrates the importance of mobilisation, coordination and strategic organisation within the ruling party.

But the success of democratic politics should not be reduced to organisational strength.

The more consequential test is whether political parties can connect their electoral ambitions to the daily realities of citizens.

Nigeria's hardship requires serious economic reasoning, transparent public administration and practical policy responses. It also requires political communication that respects the dignity of public office and the intelligence of the electorate.

The APC should therefore devote substantial attention to demonstrating how its policies will improve the lives of Nigerians. It should engage opposition proposals on their merits and avoid allowing personal exchanges to dominate the public conversation.

Atiku Abubakar's interventions, including his proposal concerning locally refined petroleum products, should be examined through evidence, implementation requirements and anticipated effects on citizens. The same standard should apply to every competing political programme.

The ultimate responsibility rests with the Nigerian electorate, who must assess the records, proposals and conduct of all political actors.

The 2027 election should be an opportunity for a serious national conversation about the future of Nigeria, and not simply another contest of political personalities.

The people deserve policies they can understand, promises they can evaluate and leadership that treats their welfare as a central obligation.