2027: Tinubu has no competitor in South-South — Akpabio

By Adegboyega Adeleye Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said President Bola Tinubu faces no serious competition in the South-South ahead of the 2027 presidential election, citing regional support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and projects he said the President had delivered. Akpabio made the remarks while campaigning for Tinubu’s re-election at the APC presidential campaign rally at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State on Thursday, pointing to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, security initiatives and infrastructure projects in Edo as reasons residents should support Tinubu.

“I want you to know that President Bola Tinubu has no competition, no competitor equally in the whole of the South-South. We are grateful for the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, we had that as a dream but it never came to fruition until he came to office. He has even added another 100 kilometers to cover the entirety of Edo and Edo people are very grateful,” Akpabio said.

He also urged South-South voters to turn out for Tinubu on January 16, 2027, saying the region intended to outpoll other parts of the country. “Your Excellency, the Vice President, I want you to know that this is my zone. And we have resolved in this zone that no other zone in Nigeria will beat this zone. We will vote massively for the President come 16th of January 2027.

“We will beat other zones if care is not taken. We may even beat your zone, the North East zone of the country. We will vote even against all odds,” he said. Akpabio said Edo was firmly behind Tinubu, recalling that Vice-President Kashim Shettima had told him the state’s election was “over.” He also described Edo as the first ACN/APC state in the South-South and said all states in the region were now governed by the party.

“I must also say that the Vice president whispered to me when we came in here that Edo is over, election in Edo is over. When the Governor of Edo, Gov. Okpebholo started shouting, a lot of people did not understand him. Why will Edo not return President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into office? Not just the love he has for this state. “This state happens to have been the pioneer ACN/APC state in the South-South part of Nigeria.

From Edo today, all the states of the South-South are now APC,” Akpabio added. He also cited security measures, including a new mobile police base, the recruitment of forest guards and plans for state police, as evidence of efforts to improve safety in Edo and across Nigeria. “He has, in terms of security, he has turned the army forward oppression base.

They now have a new Mopo base, Mopo 82 squadron, to cater for the security of Edo people. “They have recruited over 500 forest guards from amongst our youth. And the Governor has told me that as soon as we commence the state police, which about 32 states have met their returns and approved already, to alter the constitution of Nigeria, to bring in for the first time in the history of this country, state policing, as part and parcel to complement what the federal police is doing.

So security is coming back to Nigeria in full force. “For Edo, he has established another division here, 83 Army Division, to cater for the good people of Edo. The President, we thank you on behalf of South-South because these things are happening. Many universities have also been established here,” he said. Akpabio praised the South-South governors’ support for Tinubu and pointed to ongoing construction projects in the region, including new flyovers in Edo.

“The greatest of all is the appreciation and the commitment of our state governors in the South-South. Almost every place has been turned into a construction site. In Edo, the first set of flyovers are already springing up,” he added.