By ReLoaded News Desk
Opposition parties and political organisations have criticised President Bola Tinubu’s newly inaugurated Presidential Campaign Council, questioning its size, the use of the Presidential Villa for the inauguration and the inclusion of politicians affiliated with other parties in the All Progressives Congress (APC) re-election structure.
The reactions followed the inauguration of the council in Abuja on Wednesday, October 14, as the ruling party began formal preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council and the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation issued separate criticisms, although their objections centred on different aspects of the development.
Atiku questioned the administration’s political priorities and the use of the seat of government for a partisan event. The ADC raised concerns about the implications of the campaign council’s composition for opposition parties, while the Makinde/Daura organisation dismissed the expanded structure as a politically excessive coalition.
The criticisms have opened a wider debate over the relationship between political alliances, the responsibilities of public office and the performance record that voters will assess in 2027.
Atiku Questions Tinubu’s Political Priorities
Atiku, the ADC’s presidential candidate, criticised the expanded campaign council, arguing that the number of political figures assembled by the President could not shield the administration from public scrutiny over economic hardship and insecurity.
In a statement issued through his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice-president argued that political endorsements would not erase the difficulties facing Nigerians.
Atiku pointed to the cost of living, hunger, poverty and insecurity as issues that should occupy greater attention than the expansion of a presidential campaign structure.
He also questioned the decision to inaugurate the council at the Presidential Villa, arguing that the facility belongs to Nigerians and should not be treated as an extension of the ruling party’s political organisation.
The criticism raises a question about the distinction between the President’s official responsibilities and his role as the leader of a re-election campaign.
Atiku also cited figures from the 2026 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, pointing to an increase of 17.9 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty between the 2021 and 2024 estimates.
The figures cited in his statement put the number at approximately 90.1 million in 2024, compared with 72.2 million in 2021.
The data provides a basis for examining the country’s poverty situation, although the period covered by the estimates must be distinguished from the period of Tinubu’s presidency when assessing responsibility for the change.
ADC Alleges Pressure on Opposition Politicians
The ADC Presidential Campaign Council mounted a separate criticism, focusing on the inclusion of politicians affiliated with other parties in the APC’s campaign structure.
Its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the development as “political abduction” and accused the ruling party of undermining multiparty democracy by incorporating opposition-affiliated governors into its presidential campaign council.
The ADC alleged that opposition politicians were being pressured into political alignment with the ruling party despite not formally defecting from their respective organisations.
The party argued that the development raised concerns about political freedom, the independence of opposition organisations and the ability of competing parties to operate without undue pressure.
The ADC’s criticism places the focus on whether the reported alliances reflect voluntary political choices or a broader pattern of pressure on opposition figures. That question requires evidence beyond the names appearing on the council’s list.
The party also urged Nigerians, civil society organisations and the international community to support multiparty democracy and political accountability.
Makinde/Daura Organisation Dismisses the Council
The Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation, associated with the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), also criticised the expanded council, describing it as a “Nebuchadnezzar Coalition”.
The organisation questioned the political value of assembling a large number of prominent figures and argued that the size of the structure would not, by itself, guarantee electoral success.
Its reaction reflects a wider opposition argument that campaign appointments and political endorsements should not be confused with evidence of public support.
The criticism, however, is a political assessment rather than a measurable finding about the council’s effectiveness. The eventual impact of the campaign structure will depend on its organisation, the conduct of its members and the extent to which its activities translate into voter participation.
For the opposition, the challenge is to move beyond dismissing the ruling party’s arrangements and present credible alternatives on the economy, security and public services.
For the ruling party, the arrangement offers access to influential political networks and opportunities to coordinate support across party boundaries.
Both sides face a practical test.
The APC must demonstrate that its expanded structure can coordinate effective mobilisation rather than simply assemble political names. Opposition organisations must establish whether their support networks remain intact and convince voters that their own candidates offer credible alternatives.
Neither the number of appointments nor the volume of criticism settles those questions.
Ahead of 2027, the opposition reactions have shifted attention from the inauguration itself to three issues that are likely to remain central to the campaign: the administration’s economic record, the independence of opposition parties and the proper separation between public office and partisan activity.
Atiku’s criticism places household hardship and insecurity at the centre of the electoral debate. The ADC’s response raises concerns about political freedom and the conditions under which opposition parties operate. The Makinde/Daura organisation questions whether the ruling party’s expanded campaign structure will deliver the results its members are expected to produce.
The government should be able to explain the outcomes of its policies, while allegations of coercion or misuse of public resources should be investigated against verifiable facts. The opposition, in turn, will need to demonstrate that its criticism is accompanied by clear policy alternatives and credible plans for addressing the country’s problems.
The APC’s Presidential Campaign Council has now been inaugurated. The political argument surrounding it has only begun.
Ultimately, Nigerians will judge the competing parties not by the size of their campaign structures or the sharpness of their statements, but by their records, their proposals and their ability to address the challenges confronting the country.
Reloaded News — NEWS THAT INFORMS. MEDIA THAT TRANSFORMS
