By Kazeem Waris
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has thrown down the political gauntlet ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that Akwa Ibom State will deliver the highest number of votes for President Bola Tinubu in the South-South geopolitical zone.
Akpabio, who expressed confidence in the electoral strength of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, called on party leaders, stakeholders and supporters to close ranks and work towards delivering the promised electoral victory for Tinubu and other APC candidates.
The Senate President made the declaration on Sunday during a special religious service at the International Christian Worship Centre, Uyo, organised to dedicate the APC’s 2027 election campaign to God under the theme, “We Are Well Able.”
According to a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, Akpabio attributed his confidence in the party’s electoral prospects to the need for unity and the political support he said Akwa Ibom had received from the Tinubu administration.
He specifically urged the people of the state to reciprocate the President’s support, pointing to his emergence as Senate President as an example of the opportunities available to Akwa Ibom under the current administration.
“Akwa Ibom son, through the support of Mr President, is today the President of the Senate and the number three citizen of Nigeria, and whether you like him or not, he is there today,” Akpabio said.
He added: “The only way to thank Mr President for that support is to give him all our votes and from what I have seen here today, Akwa Ibom State will give Mr President the highest number of votes in the South-South region.”
The declaration sets the stage for an ambitious electoral contest in the South-South, where the APC will be seeking to consolidate its political standing ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Akpabio warns against divisions in APC
Beyond the electoral prediction, the Senate President used the occasion to address internal divisions within the APC, calling for an inclusive political structure that accommodates both old and new members.
In an address titled “One Family, One Destiny, One Akwa Ibom Under God,” Akpabio argued that party unity should take precedence over personal interests, political history or claims to seniority.
He cautioned against the emergence of factions that could weaken the party’s mobilisation efforts and undermine its chances at the polls.
“In the APC family, there should be no aborigines and no newcomers; no landlords and no tenants; no first-class members and no second-class members. There should be only one big family, united by a common purpose and a shared responsibility,” he declared.
He maintained that long-standing members and those who recently joined the party should enjoy equal opportunities to contribute to its success.
“Nobody needs to demolish another person’s mansion to find accommodation, and nobody needs to extinguish another person’s candle for his own light to shine. We may have arrived through different doors, but we must learn to live under one roof,” Akpabio said.
The Senate President also urged party members to ensure that their political ambitions did not undermine the welfare of the people, insisting that political campaigns should reflect the values of dignity, justice and responsibility.
“Therefore, our politics must reflect our faith, our campaigns must honour human dignity, and our ambitions must never become greater than the welfare of our people,” he said.
Akwa Ibom’s progress must reflect in national development
Akpabio also linked the development of Akwa Ibom to the broader fortunes of Nigeria, arguing that the state’s prosperity could not be separated from the country’s overall stability.
He called for national solidarity, particularly in addressing insecurity and economic hardship across different parts of the federation.
“Akwa Ibom’s greatness is inseparable from Nigeria’s greatness. We cannot desire peace in Uyo and be indifferent to insecurity elsewhere in our federation, nor celebrate prosperity in our communities while ignoring hardship in other parts of our country,” he said.
He further described Nigeria as the larger national destiny to which Akwa Ibom must contribute, urging political leaders to demonstrate unity through their actions and strengthen democratic institutions.
Eno seeks fresh mandate, rallies support for APC candidates
Earlier, Governor Umo Eno thanked the people of Akwa Ibom for their support during the last election and appealed for stronger backing for Tinubu, Akpabio, himself and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
The governor expressed his desire to continue serving the people with the fear of God if given another mandate, while urging residents to support the party’s candidates at all levels.
The special service brought together APC stakeholders and supporters to seek divine guidance for the party’s electoral campaign.
With Akpabio’s declaration setting an ambitious target for the state, the APC now faces the task of translating its political mobilisation and promises of unity into actual votes at the ballot box.
Whether Akwa Ibom delivers the South-South’s highest vote for Tinubu will ultimately be determined by the electorate in 2027.
