Tinubu doesn’t need to attend every APC rally, says Oshiomhole

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision not to attend every campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mr Oshiomhole said the President was not obliged to be physically present at every party engagement, arguing that his absence from some rallies did not amount to a failure to discharge his constitutional responsibilities.

The former Edo State governor spoke during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, while responding to questions about Mr Tinubu’s absence from some APC campaign rallies and his recent religious activities in Mecca.

He said the President’s decision to limit his participation in campaign activities was a matter of choice and the prerogative of the ruling party.

Mr Oshiomhole also dismissed suggestions that the President’s religious obligations conflicted with his responsibility to govern the country.

“So, I don’t see what the contradiction is. There is none. He didn’t say, ‘I will stop worshipping God, I will stop praying so that I can constitute a governance,’” he said.

The former APC national chairman argued that a president did not need to attend every political or public engagement in person to remain effective in office.

“A president is not like a teacher who must be in the classroom. But even now, you can be taught online,” he said.

Mr Oshiomhole also criticised the continued questioning of Mr Tinubu’s absence from some campaign activities, suggesting that the issue had been sufficiently discussed.

“Since you are not one of our supporters, you should be happy that the president is not going to go everywhere, and then you try to make a point out of that,” he said.