By Omoyeni Ojeifo
Government officials have a constitutional right to join President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, according to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Responding to criticism over the composition of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council on Channels Television, APC spokesperson Felix Morka clarified that taking up public office does not strip individuals of their constitutional right to take part in political and electoral affairs.
“You don’t abridge the right of any Nigerian to participate, the right to choose, the right to vote, the right to be involved.
“Constitutional freedom of every individual, of every citizen, to participate in the governance processes, electoral processes of their country trumps every consideration, he said.
PerSecondNews reports that the criticism stems from the appointment of ministers and senior officials to the campaign council, raising concerns that their partisan involvement could blur the boundary between their public duties and President Bola Tinubu’s re-election efforts.
Morka maintained that serving officials could perform their government responsibilities while participating in partisan activities, arguing that their positions equipped them with the ability to handle both responsibilities.
“You must grant them the facility that they are capable of multitasking. They are capable of performing the functions of the office while, at the same time, performing as members of the Presidential Campaign Council.”
The APC spokesman also rejected concerns that public officials could deploy the powers of their offices to influence the electoral process, saying their participation was not prohibited by democratic principles.
“There is no country of the world, whether it’s the United States, Great Britain, South Africa or any country in Asia, where public officials who hold significant positions do not participate in these kinds of processes. There is no democratic concept that excludes them,” he also said.
Morka also explained the choice of former Zamfara Governor and serving Senator Abdul’aziz Yari as Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council, citing his political experience, competence and mobilisation capacity.
“He is eminently qualified to serve as DG of this presidential campaign council. He was a former governor, he is a serving senator. His competence, his versatility, his ability to be restless in mobilising Nigerians to work for the party informed the choice.”
He said the APC needed experienced politicians with the stamina and enthusiasm to mobilise Nigerians for the 2027 contest, describing the election as a serious political battle for the ruling party.
“The party is in electoral war mode. An election is a contested programme, so you want to enlist all of those who have the stamina, the energy, the enthusiasm to compete and mobilise Nigerians to work for the party.”
On the economy, Morka said President Tinubu inherited a deeply troubled economic situation and was addressing its structural problems through reforms, despite the hardship being experienced by Nigerians.
He said:“The president is doing exactly what he was elected to do, to fix the problem at its roots. If you don’t fix your macroeconomics, you can never, not today, not tomorrow, not ever, have microeconomic conditions that are favourable to the people.”
He acknowledged the economic hardship but argued that the government’s reforms were aimed at stabilising the macroeconomy before improvements could translate into better living conditions for Nigerians.
“Today, this country is on the threshold, on the cusp of renewal, on the cusp of the kind of transformation that is unparalleled in the history of my country. Presidents have come and gone, but this president is tackling the roots.”
Morka also compared the Tinubu administration with previous civilian governments, arguing that earlier presidents failed to confront Nigeria’s longstanding problems at their roots, while the current administration had shown the political will to address them.
“All of the persons you mentioned who came before you all romanced the problem. The festering wound of this country, they didn’t lift a finger.
“This president has demonstrated political will that no other president has demonstrated to tackle Nigeria’s aging problems at its roots,” he stressed.
Morka also challenged opposition figures proposing the restoration of petrol subsidy to explain how they intended to finance the policy, particularly former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
“I want to watch a show where you will bring His Excellency, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to ask him one simple question: how exactly do you plan to pay for the subsidy that you have told Nigerians you will return, assuming you’re elected?”
He maintained that the Tinubu administration had demonstrated the political will to tackle Nigeria’s longstanding economic problems, as the APC prepares to campaign on the president’s record ahead of the 2027 presidential election.