APC backs Tinubu’s foreign trips as Obi raises concerns over president’s presence

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has pushed back against claims by Labour Party leader and former presidential candidate Peter Obi that President Bola Tinubu has been largely absent from governance, insisting that the president remains fully engaged in running the country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Lagos State spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, and released through the News Agency of Nigeria, the ruling party said Tinubu continues to discharge his constitutional duties both at home and abroad. Oladejo urged critics to focus more on the substance of governance rather than the president’s physical location.

According to him, Tinubu is deeply involved in key aspects of statecraft, including security management, economic reforms, policy coordination and international diplomacy. He added that leadership should be judged by the quality of decisions and the results achieved, not by the frequency of public appearances.

“Governance is not about constant media visibility,” Oladejo said. “It is about making the right decisions, implementing sound policies and delivering outcomes that serve the national interest.”

The APC further noted that the president’s travel schedule is guided by national priorities, not political pressure, and said his administration remains active in driving economic recovery, strengthening security and promoting Nigeria’s interests globally.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, had earlier criticised Tinubu’s level of visibility, linking it to Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions, rising insecurity and what he described as a lack of direct communication from the presidency. In a post on his verified X account on Monday, Obi claimed the president spent 196 days outside the country in 2025, more than the time he spent in Nigeria, and said Nigerians had not heard from him directly since December.

Tinubu left Lagos on December 28, 2025, for Europe for the end-of-year holidays and preparation for an official visit to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. He arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday to attend the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which opened on Monday, following an invitation from UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Responding to Obi’s comments, the APC said such international engagements are part of the president’s official duties and called on political leaders to offer constructive solutions to the country’s challenges rather than making statements that could heighten public anxiety.