Former Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Sam Amadi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s reported plans to limit his campaign visits ahead of the 2027 presidential election, alleging that the president would rely on governors to secure votes.

Amadi warned that such an approach could pose risks to Nigeria’s democracy if opposition parties were not allowed to campaign freely and voters were denied the opportunity to make their own choices.

Key Takeaways

• Sam Amadi alleged that Tinubu would depend on governors to secure votes in the 2027 presidential election.
• His comments followed Tinubu’s statement that he might not visit every state during the campaign.
• Amadi interpreted the president’s remarks as an indication that he would rely on governors for electoral support.
• He urged governors to allow opposition parties to campaign freely and peacefully.
• Amadi warned against further damage to Nigeria’s democratic institutions and called for democracy to survive.

What Tinubu Said About His 2027 Campaign

Amadi made the remarks in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, reacting to Tinubu’s statement that he might not be able to visit every state during the 2027 presidential campaign.

The president had explained that his responsibilities in office could limit his campaign movements, although he intended to maintain direct communication with Nigerians.

Tinubu said:

“You will excuse me from going everywhere with you. However, I will still make room to talk to Nigerians directly. The responsibility of this office does not pause, and we have bills to pay.”

The statement prompted Amadi to offer his interpretation of the president’s proposed campaign approach.

Amadi’s Allegation About Governors and the 2027 Election

Describing Tinubu’s remarks as honest, Amadi argued that the president’s decision not to campaign extensively could be linked to the demands and physical stress associated with travelling across the country.

He alleged that Tinubu would leave governors to secure votes on his behalf, using the phrase “by all means” to describe what he believed could happen during the election.

Amadi said:

“Tinubu is very honest here. He will not campaign because he cannot face the stress of a campaign. He will allow the governors to cash out the votes through all means.”

His statement represents Amadi’s interpretation of Tinubu’s comments. The supplied report does not establish that the president has instructed governors to obtain votes through improper means.

Why Amadi Raised Concerns About Nigeria’s Democracy

Beyond Tinubu’s campaign plans, Amadi expressed concern about the implications of governors taking a leading role in securing electoral support if opposition parties were prevented from campaigning freely.

He urged the governors to conduct their political activities peacefully and allow Nigerians to decide whether Tinubu should return to office in 2027.

Amadi said:

“I just ask the governors to go about this proxy work peacefully, allow the opposition to campaign freely, and let the people decide for themselves whether to return Tinubu to power despite his inability to campaign.”

His appeal centred on political competition and voters’ freedom to choose their preferred candidate. He did not provide evidence in the supplied remarks that governors had already engaged in electoral malpractice.

Amadi Warns Against Further Damage to Democracy

Amadi also warned that Nigeria’s democratic institutions had already suffered significant damage and should not face further deterioration.

He raised concerns about the possibility of military intervention, referring to developments in other West African countries as part of his argument for protecting democratic governance.

He said:

“Nigerian democracy is already damaged. But we should not damage it further for fear of the military. We are vulnerable. Consider what is going on around us in West Africa.

“We need democracy to survive.”

Amadi’s comments therefore went beyond the president’s campaign schedule, focusing on the need to preserve democratic institutions and ensure that political parties can compete freely.

The supplied report does not include a response from Tinubu or the Presidency to Amadi’s allegations. It also does not establish whether the president’s remarks about campaign travel reflect any agreement with governors on how votes should be secured.