The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed claims by Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi that President Bola Tinubu has been absent from governance, insisting that the president remains actively engaged in the affairs of state.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Lagos State spokesman, Seye Oladejo, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the ruling party said Tinubu continues to discharge his constitutional responsibilities both within and outside the country.
Oladejo urged political actors to focus on substantive governance issues rather than physical visibility, stressing that effective leadership is not defined by constant public appearances.
“He is actively involved in the complex and demanding work of statecraft, which includes policy coordination, security oversight, diplomatic engagements and economic reforms,” he said.
“Governance is not measured by constant public appearances or media check-ins. It is assessed by the quality of decisions taken, the policies implemented and the outcomes delivered in the national interest.”
According to the APC, the president’s engagements are guided strictly by national priorities and not by political commentary. The party added that the administration remains fully engaged across key areas, including economic management, security and international diplomacy, aimed at sustaining growth and strengthening Nigeria’s global standing.
“His schedule and engagements are driven by national priorities, not by the need to satisfy political commentary,” Oladejo added.
Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, had earlier expressed concern over what he described as the president’s limited visibility amid worsening economic conditions, rising insecurity and a lack of direct communication from the presidency.
In a statement posted on his verified X account on Monday, Obi claimed that Tinubu spent 196 days outside the country in 2025—more than the time spent in Nigeria—and alleged that Nigerians had not heard directly from the president since December 2025.
Tinubu had departed Lagos on December 28, 2025, for Europe for the end-of-year holiday and preparatory engagements ahead of an official visit to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. He arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday to attend the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which commenced on Monday, following an invitation from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The APC maintained that such international engagements are part of the president’s official duties, urging political leaders to offer constructive solutions to national challenges rather than comments that could heighten public anxiety.
