Vice President Kashim Shettima has appealed to Nigerians to re-elect President Bola Tinubu in 2027, describing the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the most trustworthy political party for the country. Shettima made the appeal on Monday during the APC presidential campaign rally in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. He sought support for Governor Bassey Otu and other candidates of the party, assuring residents that the APC remained committed to their interests.
Shettima cited the support of Cross River residents for the party over the past three years, describing the relationship between the APC and the people of Cross River as an alliance built on progress, prosperity, opportunities, and dignity. He said the party was seeking another mandate from voters because political authority belonged to the people, who deserved accountability from those entrusted with public office.
The Vice President urged residents to support Tinubu for another four years, alongside himself as Vice President and Otu for a second term as governor. He also appealed to voters to elect APC candidates into the National Assembly and the Cross River State House of Assembly. Shettima asked for a renewal of the mandate of President Tinubu and himself as Vice President, and another term for Bassey Otu as Governor of Cross River State.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole, a former Edo State governor, used the rally to attack opposition figures, particularly the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is contesting under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Oshiomhole questioned Obi’s capacity to lead Nigeria, arguing that he failed to address Anambra State’s challenges during his eight years as governor.
Oshiomhole also mocked Obi’s promise to serve only one term if elected president, insisting that the former Anambra governor had not demonstrated the capacity to deliver within four years. He accused Atiku of spending much of his time in Dubai and returning to Nigeria mainly during election periods, predicting that Atiku would return to Dubai after losing the 2027 presidential election.
Oshiomhole defended the Tinubu administration’s policies and highlighted what he described as its achievements, particularly in Cross River State. He cited the resolution of Cross River’s non-littoral status and its recognition as an oil-producing state, which would increase the revenue accruing to the state and improve its economic prospects. He also praised the Federal Government’s student loan scheme, arguing that it had expanded access to higher education for young Nigerians.
The senator urged Cross River residents to reject opposition parties and maintain their support for the APC, expressing confidence in the party’s political future in the state. He cited the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, saying its completion would create economic opportunities and accelerate development in Cross River State, and defended the administration’s economic policies, particularly the abolition of multiple exchange rates.
Key points
- Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerians to re-elect President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
- The APC is seeking another mandate from voters in 2027.
- Senator Adams Oshiomhole attacked opposition figures, including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, during the APC rally in Calabar.
