Supporters of Tinubu’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) gathered at the 10,000-capacity Ranchers Bees Stadium, with thousands filling much of the venue before the rally began.
Addressing the crowd, Tinubu called for a massive turnout in January and urged Nigerians to support his bid for another four-year term.
The president faces competition from several opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, who finished second and third, respectively, in the 2023 presidential election.
Since assuming office in 2023, Tinubu has implemented sweeping economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of Nigeria’s currency, the naira.
Although the measures have contributed to improvements in government finances, foreign reserves and investor confidence, they have also intensified financial pressures on ordinary Nigerians, contributing to the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
In September, petrol prices reached approximately 1,400 naira ($1.05) per litre in Lagos and Abuja, while consumers in some northern regions paid as much as 1,500 naira.
During his campaign speech, Tinubu rejected opposition criticism over widespread hunger and poverty, blaming his political rivals for the country’s economic difficulties.
“They created the hunger. They created the poverty,” the president said, insisting that his administration was working to address the problems.
Phrank Shaibu, a spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s campaign, dismissed the accusations and criticized Tinubu for attempting to avoid responsibility for the economic situation.
National security is also expected to dominate the election campaign. Nigeria continues to face attacks by armed criminal groups and kidnappers in the northwest, alongside a 17-year Islamist insurgency in the northeast.
Despite these challenges, Tinubu’s supporters say he has secured the backing of 32 of Nigeria’s 36 state governors, providing his campaign with an extensive political network.
However, support from state governors does not guarantee electoral victories, as previous presidential contests have demonstrated.
Northern Nigeria is expected to be a particularly important battleground, where Atiku, a veteran politician with an established regional support base, is seeking to challenge Tinubu.
The president has announced that he will not personally attend rallies in all 36 states, explaining that he must balance campaign activities with his responsibilities as head of state.
Under the APC’s proposed election timetable, Tinubu is expected to participate in campaign events across 12 states before a major closing rally in his home state of Lagos on January 9.
