Arise News Director of News and Politics Editor, Sumner Sambo, has advised President Bola Tinubu to be cautious about some state governors and members of his campaign team ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Sambo gave the warning following Tinubu’s announcement that he would not visit every state during his campaign.

The President made the announcement on Thursday during the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign council, where he disclosed that he would skip some campaign trips.

Sambo described the decision as a potential weakness for the ruling party, noting that opposition members had questioned Tinubu’s physical ability to campaign across the country. Others, he said, believed the President was avoiding voters’ anger over the prevailing economic situation.

Speaking on Arise News, Sambo compared Tinubu’s campaign approach with those of former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Olusegun Obasanjo, who travelled extensively during their campaigns.

He said: “In terms of governance within the APC, it is actually a weak point for President Tinubu because, in 2019, you could see President Muhammadu Buhari going around the country.

“He was able to visit two states a day in some instances, trying to prove to people that, despite claims that he was sick and would not be able to campaign, he could do so.

“He was able to travel around the entire country, visiting two or three states per day, depending on how they were able to organise things.

“If you also consider Obasanjo, he did almost the same thing in 2003, as Buhari did. So, they were very strong and agile and were able to travel around. But if you juxtapose Buhari’s campaign with Tinubu’s, it could actually be seen as a weak point.”

However, Sambo noted that Tinubu’s approach was not entirely unusual internationally, citing United States President Donald Trump’s campaign strategy as an example of a candidate focusing on key battleground and swing states rather than travelling extensively.

He added that the concerns raised by opposition parties about Tinubu’s physical fitness and the economic crisis could influence public perceptions of the President’s decision.

Sambo also argued that extensive campaign tours would provide Tinubu with opportunities to interact directly with traditional rulers and residents, particularly in states affected by insurgency and insecurity.

He said Buhari’s travels during the 2019 campaign allowed him to meet people on the front lines and gain firsthand knowledge of conditions in different parts of the country.

According to Sambo, Tinubu’s limited travels before and during the campaign could deny him similar opportunities to assess the situation and engage directly with citizens.

He urged the President to be cautious about relying solely on information provided by governors and campaign officials.

“So, if he is going to visit only a few places, I would say that he should be very, very careful with some state governors and members of his campaign team. He should be very careful because there are many hidden issues that cannot be disclosed now,” Sambo said.