President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) will achieve total victory in the South South region in the 2027 general elections. He made this statement at the Rivers State Rainbow Coalition rally held at the Adokie Amasiemeka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital. Akpabio emphasized that peace and unity among stakeholders and political leaders in the region will ensure Tinubu's return to the Villa on January 16, 2027.
Akpabio noted that Rivers people are experienced in elections and voting, citing the state's resounding support for Tinubu in the 2023 elections. He stated that Tinubu won in Rivers State with a significant margin, unlike in other parts of the South South region. The Senator also praised Tinubu for appointing Chief Nyesom Wike, a Rivers son, as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who has delivered remarkable development in the FCT.
Akpabio highlighted several achievements of the Tinubu administration, including the Students Loan Fund, which has benefited over 100,000 students from Rivers State and other less privileged families. He also mentioned the improvement in foreign reserves, from $4.5 billion to over $50 billion, and the unification of the tax system, which has increased revenue from taxation. Additionally, Akpabio mentioned the Coastal road project, which passes through Rivers State and will boost economic and commercial activities in the region.
The Senator charged the South South people to continue supporting the Tinubu-led administration, citing its efforts to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians. He emphasized that despite being a popular party, the APC will continue to campaign and mobilize support for the 2027 elections. Akpabio prayed that the gatherings in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States would yield desired results, leading to a victory for Tinubu and the APC on January 16, 2027.
In a related development, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has set a target of at least one million votes for President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. He charged the newly inaugurated APC State Campaign Council to prioritize reconciliation, party unity, and collective electoral mobilization. Governor Diri urged party members to support the campaign council's activities and take the APC's message to communities, wards, and polling units across the state.
Governor Diri listed several achievements of the Tinubu administration, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Nembe-Brass Road, interventions in the power sector, and federal appointments for Bayelsa indigenes. He praised Tinubu for the coastal highway project, which he said reflected federal attention to the development needs of coastal communities. The Governor also expressed hope that a second term for Tinubu would provide an opportunity to advance demands for fiscal federalism, greater resource control, and state policing.
The Governor's directive has received criticism from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which questioned his commitment to Tinubu's re-election campaign. The PDP alleged that APC campaign billboards in Yenagoa promote other party candidates without featuring President Tinubu. The party's Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ikaebimo Mark, described the omission as an indication that Governor Diri was not fully aligned with the APC's national leadership.
Key points
- Akpabio predicts total victory for President Tinubu and APC in South South region in 2027 elections
- Governor Diri sets target of one million votes for Tinubu in Bayelsa State
- Tinubu's administration has achieved significant milestones, including improvement in foreign reserves and unification of tax system
