Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has described the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s revised Presidential Campaign Council as “a crowded confession of Tinubu’s fear”, accusing President Bola Tinubu of relying on political heavyweights rather than addressing Nigerians’ economic hardship and insecurity.
Atiku said the size of the campaign council reflected a government more concerned with assembling political support than accounting for its performance in office.

In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku argued that the number of politicians on the list would not erase the effects of rising living costs, violence and kidnapping on Nigerians.
“Only a man afraid of his record would think he could bury it under hundreds of names. Tinubu can gather every governor, minister and political defector in Nigeria. None of them can erase the hunger in people’s homes, bring back those killed by violence or free Nigerians still held captive. Their families are waiting for answers, not another campaign list,” he said.

Atiku also criticised the administration’s economic policies, alleging that the government had prioritised its political machinery while asking struggling Nigerians to make further sacrifices.
“Tinubu has room for an army of ministers and a stadium full of campaign officials, but no room in his plans for Nigerians crushed by the cost of living. He feeds his political machine and tells hungry families to sacrifice,” he said.

The former vice-president added that political endorsements and defections would not necessarily translate into public support, insisting that voters would judge the President by their living conditions.
He also condemned the decision to inaugurate the APC Presidential Campaign Council at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, describing the venue as an inappropriate setting for a party political event.

“The Presidential Villa belongs to the Nigerian people. It is not a campaign venue or the private property of any political party. Using it for an APC political event is a gross breach of public trust and a troubling abuse of public office,” Atiku said.
He questioned why the inauguration was held at the Villa when Abuja had other venues capable of hosting the gathering.

According to him, a president confident in his record should be willing to face the public openly and seek another mandate based on his administration’s achievements.
Atiku further accused Tinubu of responding to criticism of the initial campaign council by expanding the list and drawing more politicians from other parties.

“When the first list drew criticism, Tinubu had a chance to show that he understood the country’s anger. Instead, he returned with an even longer list, reaching into other parties for more names. He is collecting politicians like shields against public judgment,” he said.
The ADC chieftain linked his criticism to the country’s economic and security challenges, citing a reported increase of 17.9 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty in the 2026 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index.

He also alleged that millions of Nigerians had experienced worsening hardship under Tinubu’s leadership, while insecurity continued to leave families traumatised and uncertain about the safety of their loved ones.
Atiku maintained that the number of politicians supporting the President would not resolve the challenges confronting households, workers and parents struggling to meet basic expenses.

“No campaign council, however crowded, can make food affordable, restore a worker’s purchasing power or explain why the sacrifices demanded of ordinary Nigerians never seem to reach Tinubu’s own political circle,” he said.
He contrasted the APC’s expanded campaign structure with what he described as the ADC’s focused campaign team, saying his party intended to take its case directly to Nigerians.

Atiku said the forthcoming election would ultimately be determined by voters’ experiences rather than the size of either party’s campaign machinery.
“On January 16, the ballot will contain no column for the size of a campaign council. Nigerians will judge Tinubu by the lives they have lived under his government,” he said.

He cited the struggles of families unable to afford sufficient food, workers whose wages were eroded by transport costs, parents struggling to pay school fees and households worried about relatives travelling through unsafe areas.
Atiku concluded that no number of political endorsements could insulate the President from public scrutiny over the economy and insecurity.

“Tinubu can surround himself with every political heavyweight in Nigeria; on election day, he will still face the people who lived through his failures and their list is much longer,” he said.