The PBAT Door-to-Door Movement 2027 has criticised former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his remarks on President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing three-week vacation in Europe.
The group dismissed Atiku’s criticism as an attempt to turn the President’s routine annual leave into a political controversy, insisting that Tinubu’s absence from the country does not amount to a leadership vacuum.
In a statement posted on Atiku verified X account on Sunday, questioned the timing of Tinubu’s vacation amid Nigeria’s economic difficulties and security challenges.
Although the former Vice President acknowledged that the President’s absence did not create a constitutional vacuum, he argued that the country was experiencing what he described as a “disturbing vacuum of political leadership.”
Tinubu departed Abuja on Sunday for Europe to begin his three-week annual leave, with London, United Kingdom, as his first destination.
The President’s departure was announced by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said Tinubu would return to Nigeria after the vacation to join the “hectic campaign” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting in a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Sunday Asuku, and made available to journalists in Kaduna on Sunday, the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement urged Atiku to focus on presenting his political agenda to Nigerians rather than criticising the President’s vacation.
The group described Atiku as a “serial presidential contestant without direction” and challenged him to explain what he would do differently if elected President.
“After contesting for the presidency repeatedly since 1993, Atiku should be telling Nigerians what he intends to do differently, rather than spending his time attacking President Tinubu,” the group said.
It added that the President’s vacation did not mean the country had been abandoned, stressing that government institutions remained functional.
“Presidents and world leaders go on vacation. A vacation does not mean a country has been abandoned. Nigeria has functioning institutions and officials responsible for ensuring that government continues to run,” the movement stated.
The group also accused Atiku of inconsistency over the Federal Government’s fuel subsidy policy.
According to the movement, Atiku campaigned during the 2023 presidential election on a promise to remove the subsidy but has since advocated its restoration.
It questioned whether the former Vice President’s current position represented a genuine policy shift or an attempt to capitalise on the economic hardship being experienced by Nigerians.
“In 2023, he told Nigerians he would remove fuel subsidy. Today, he is talking about bringing it back. Nigerians deserve to know whether this is a genuine policy position or simply an attempt to deceive people into believing that he suddenly sympathises with them,” the group said.
The movement further urged Atiku to take his campaign directly to Nigerians as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify.
It said the Independent National Electoral Commission had commenced preparations for the elections and urged political aspirants to present concrete solutions to the country’s economic, security and employment challenges.
“INEC has rolled out the timetable. Atiku should go out and campaign and tell Nigerians what he has for them. Smearing the name of President Tinubu because he has gone on vacation will not work,” the group said.
The PBAT Door-to-Door Movement called on Nigerians to assess Tinubu’s administration based on its policies and performance rather than political rhetoric as the country moves towards the 2027 elections.
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