Human rights activist and social commentator, Segun Awosanya, popularly known as Segalink, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not need to physically visit all 36 states of Nigeria to secure support ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Segalink argued that the President could reach voters through alternative communication channels, including televised addresses, while members of his campaign council and other political leaders handle grassroots mobilisation across the country.
He made the remarks during an interview on Vanguard’s Politics Hub, where he discussed Tinubu’s proposed campaign strategy and the importance of communicating with Nigerians ahead of the next general election.
According to the activist, there is no requirement for a presidential candidate to personally attend campaign rallies in every state, provided effective alternative methods are used to communicate the candidate’s message and mobilise voters.
“It is not left for him to say 12 states is enough for me, while I can now adopt other mechanisms. There are so many things the President does that he doesn’t do directly,” Segalink said.
He explained that campaign activities could be delegated to members of the presidential campaign council, while Tinubu uses television and other communication platforms to engage Nigerians directly.
Using the evolution of communication technology as an example, Segalink questioned why political engagement should be restricted to physical appearances when messages could also be delivered through electronic platforms.
He compared the approach to sending documents through email or WhatsApp instead of relying on older methods of physical delivery.
The activist maintained that the effectiveness of a presidential campaign should not be measured simply by the number of states visited by a candidate but by the ability to reach voters, communicate policies and win public confidence.
“It’s not just about the performative optics; if he has gone to all the states. It’s about reaching the people there, it’s about getting his message across to the people,” he said.
Segalink added that the priority should be ensuring that voters understand the candidate’s message and that political mobilisation reaches states considered important to the election.
His comments come amid discussions over Tinubu’s decision not to personally attend campaign rallies in all 36 states ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Earlier, Obafemi George, a member of the media and strategic communications directorate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, defended the proposed strategy, stating that neither the Constitution nor the Electoral Act requires a presidential candidate to campaign physically in every state.
George said Tinubu would combine direct and indirect campaigning while prioritising governance and the administration’s programmes.
Reports on the proposed APC campaign timetable indicated that the President was scheduled to attend rallies in 12 states, while party leaders would coordinate campaign activities in other locations.
The debate has brought attention to how political parties intend to combine traditional rallies, grassroots mobilisation and digital communication as preparations for the 2027 presidential election continue.
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