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By Stella Odueme
The Democratic Front (TDF) has commended President Bola Tinubu for prioritising governance over political campaigns ahead of the January 2027 presidential election, describing the decision as exemplary and a positive development for Nigeria’s democracy.
The group said the President’s decision to limit his participation in campaign rallies would allow him to concentrate on official responsibilities and sustain the gains of his administration’s economic reforms.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, TDF said the move demonstrated Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring that governance was not disrupted by electioneering activities.
The group said the decision reflected the President’s commitment to the administration’s Nigeria First policy, launched on May 5, 2025, following its approval by the Federal Executive Council.
According to TDF, Tinubu’s approach also demonstrated his determination to protect the gains of ongoing economic reforms at a critical period in the country’s economic development.
It condemned criticism of the President’s decision by opposition politicians, particularly the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar.
The group described such criticism as unpatriotic, arguing that Tinubu had acted in the national interest by choosing to focus on governance rather than attend every campaign rally.
TDF said the President’s decision represented an innovation in Nigeria’s democratic culture that other political leaders should emulate.
It added that Tinubu’s ability to entrust campaign activities to a competent team showed that his administration had developed the capacity to mobilise support for his re-election without distracting him from official duties.
The group further argued that the President’s record in economic reforms, security, education, healthcare and agriculture would provide sufficient grounds for Nigerians to assess his performance ahead of the election.
It cited the introduction of student loans to improve access to tertiary education for financially disadvantaged students, alongside measures aimed at addressing insecurity and stabilising the economy.
TDF also highlighted the administration’s investments in healthcare, particularly initiatives to improve local treatment for kidney diseases and cancer, as well as funding for agriculture to reduce food costs and strengthen food security.
The group equally pointed to efforts to improve public revenue generation and national productivity, saying the initiatives had strengthened the case for Tinubu’s re-election.
It maintained that a President with such a record did not need to attend every campaign rally to convince Nigerians to renew his mandate.
TDF concluded that opposition candidates would be mistaken to interpret Tinubu’s decision to prioritise governance as a political advantage, insisting that the President’s approach demonstrated leadership and commitment to national development.