Former Minister of Sport and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of already launching his re-election campaign for 2027, while defending members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who are being criticized for their presidential ambitions.
Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in Jos on Monday, Dalung, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari and is now a member of the ADC, claimed that Tinubu has been actively campaigning for the past two years, including during his first year in office when he allegedly launched billboards for 2027.
“In the past two years, Tinubu has been campaigning. In his one year in office, he launched billboards for 2027. In the second year he introduced the gale of defection, he has been converting most of his functions to rallies,” Dalung stated, suggesting that the president has been using official functions as campaign events.
The former minister argued that while Tinubu has been campaigning extensively, opposition parties like the ADC are only now beginning their political activities, making criticism of their timing unfair. He described those declaring presidential ambitions now as “patriots of this country” who deserve commendation rather than criticism.
Dalung emphasized that no ADC leader has officially declared presidential ambition, noting that proper protocol requires a formal press conference to announce such intentions. “To the best of my knowledge, none of them has declared presidential ambition. If they declare, they are supposed to hold a press conference to inform Nigeria that they intend to run for the highest office in the country, but this has not happened,” he explained.
The ADC chieftain defended his party’s potential presidential candidates, arguing that their motivation stems from patriotism rather than personal ambition. He stressed that ADC leaders are driven by a genuine desire to rescue Nigeria from what he characterized as the failures of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.
“They are only motivated by a desire to rescue the country from the APC administration,” Dalung said, adding that many ADC stalwarts are “eminently qualified” and are “responsible citizens who would not want to violate the electoral guidelines.”
Addressing criticism of former governors within the ADC who may seek the presidency, Dalung argued that their previous gubernatorial experience should be viewed as an asset rather than a liability. He suggested that their performance records while in office should be the primary criteria for evaluation.
“They are patriotic Nigerians; they have never been president; they might have been governor, and if you want to judge them, you go to their state and check what they have done while in office. Some of them have performed wonderfully in their states,” he stated.
The former minister dismissed concerns about the timing of potential ADC presidential declarations, arguing that the ambition to transform Nigeria cannot be considered negative when it serves the national interest rather than personal gain. He distinguished between patriotic ambition and selfish pursuits, placing ADC aspirants in the former category.
Dalung concluded by expressing confidence that the ADC will present a presidential candidate who meets public expectations, while dismissing what he termed “APC propaganda machinery.” He suggested that the ruling party’s criticism of opposition figures stems from their own “monumental failure” and represents an attempt to undermine those with “modest achievements to present to the people.”
The accusations highlight growing tensions between the ruling APC and opposition parties as the 2027 election cycle approaches, with both sides positioning themselves for what promises to be a highly competitive presidential race.
