…Passes vote of confidence in Akpabio, others
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the South-South geopolitical zone have thrown their collective weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party’s four sitting governors, endorsing them as sole candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The resolution was reached at a high-level South-South APC Stakeholders Meeting held on Saturday in Benin City, Edo State.
The meeting also saw the stakeholders passing a vote of confidence in Senate President Godswill Akpabio and members of the Zonal Working Committee, commending their leadership and commitment to the party’s progress.
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This position was officially communicated through a communique presented by the APC South-South Zonal Chairman, Victor Gaidom, at the conclusion of the meeting.
Participants also lauded Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for his performance in Abuja and his continued support for the Tinubu-led administration.
Addressing the gathering, Senate President Akpabio emphasized that under President Tinubu’s leadership, the South-South region has moved from the periphery to the forefront of national development.
“In the President Bola Tinubu-led Renewed Hope administration, the South-South geo-political zone is no longer an afterthought in national development,” Akpabio said.
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He urged members of the party and stakeholders from the region to unite in their support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“Let us bury division and rally behind the APC, the only party with the structure, vision, and leadership to transform Nigeria,” he said.
Akpabio added, “Let us support President Tinubu, not just in words, but in mobilizing our people, enlightening our communities, and defending our future.
“As 2027 beckons, we should understand the times and know and do what all Nigerians should do: support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete his transformation of our country.”
Akpabio, who serves as the APC Leader in the South-South, spoke under the theme: “United Vision: Advancing South-South Progress Under President Bola Tinubu.”
He highlighted major federal infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway which spans several South-South states.
“This landmark Coastal Highway Project, running through Lagos, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and terminating in Calabar, is not just a symbol of visionary leadership, it is an economic game-changer,” he noted.
“For the first time in our history, this strategic highway will open up the economic corridors of the Niger Delta, boost inter-state commerce, facilitate tourism, and provide thousands of direct and indirect jobs to our people. It is a promise fulfilled and a legacy in motion,” Akpabio added.
He also referenced the ongoing rehabilitation of the East-West Road, the revival of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway, and efforts to maximize the region’s gas resources through the Gas Revolution Industrial Park in Delta State and the development of modular refineries.
Akpabio highlighted reforms in the oil and gas sector, particularly the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which, according to him, ensures greater host community involvement and transparency in resource management.
“The South-South is the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, and today we are no longer begging for inclusion, we are witnessing visible and tangible transformation,” Akpabio stated.
He also spotlighted efforts in education and social investment, including the establishment of federal institutions and recalibrated welfare programs aimed at reaching vulnerable populations, along with the Presidential CNG Initiative for cleaner and more affordable fuel alternatives.
“In the area of education, the administration has approved the take-off of federal institutions across the region, ensuring access to quality education and nurturing the next generation of leaders,” he said.
Akpabio concluded his remarks with a passionate call for unity and strategic engagement across the region.
“Transformation is not built only on structures; it is built on strategy. The Tinubu administration has unveiled strategic programs designed to turn potential into performance,” he said.
“With sustained support, vigilance, and unity, the Renewed Hope Agenda will blossom into renewed lives for our people. Together, let us ensure that the APC remains the party of progress, the party of justice, and the party of the people.”
