The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday dismissed claims by the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, that President Bola Tinubu has been absent from his official duties, insisting that the president remains fully engaged in governance.
In a statement signed by the APC Lagos State Spokesman, Seye Oladejo, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the party said President Tinubu continues to discharge his constitutional responsibilities both within and outside the country.
Oladejo urged political actors to focus on substantive national issues rather than what he described as superficial assessments of leadership based on physical presence or media visibility.
According to him, the president is deeply involved in the demanding work of statecraft, including policy coordination, security oversight, diplomatic engagements and economic reforms. He stressed that governance should not be measured by constant public appearances or routine media briefings, but by the quality of decisions taken, policies implemented and results achieved in the national interest.
The APC said the president’s schedule is guided strictly by national priorities and not by political commentary, adding that his administration remains active across economic management, security operations and international diplomacy aimed at sustaining growth and strengthening Nigeria’s global standing.
The party’s reaction followed comments by Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, who raised concerns about Tinubu’s visibility amid what he described as worsening economic hardship, rising insecurity and limited direct communication from the presidency. In a statement posted on his verified X account on Monday, Obi claimed that the president spent 196 days abroad in 2025, more than the time he spent in Nigeria, and alleged that Nigerians had not heard directly from him since December 2025.
President Tinubu had departed Lagos on December 28, 2025, for Europe for the end-of-year break and to prepare for an official visit to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. He arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday to participate in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which commenced on Monday, following an invitation from the UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The APC maintained that such international engagements fall squarely within the president’s responsibilities and contribute to advancing Nigeria’s interests globally. It further called on political leaders to offer constructive solutions to the country’s challenges rather than making statements that could heighten public anxiety.
