President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has expressed confidence that Akwa Ibom State will record the highest number of votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the South South during the 2027 general elections.
Akpabio gave the assurance on Sunday at a special prayer service held at the International Christian Worship Centre, Uyo, to dedicate the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 election campaigns to God. The service was organised under the theme, “We Are Well Able.”
He called on party members and other indigenes of the state to close ranks, embrace unity and work collectively towards the success of the APC in the forthcoming elections.
The Senate President attributed his emergence as the nation’s number three citizen to President Tinubu’s support, describing a massive electoral backing for the President as a way of reciprocating the gesture.
“An Akwa Ibom son, through the support of Mr President, is today the President of the Senate and the number three citizen of Nigeria. Whether you like him or not, he is there today.
“The only way to thank Mr President for that support is to give him all our votes. From what I have seen here today, Akwa Ibom State will give Mr President the highest number of votes in the South South region,” he said.
In an address titled “One Family, One Destiny, One Akwa Ibom Under God,” Akpabio emphasised the importance of faith, justice, righteousness and mercy in political leadership.
He said the state’s development must be sustained through purposeful leadership, peaceful coexistence and a collective commitment to progress.
“Akwa Ibom has become a Nigerian wonder story, a testimony to the possibilities of purposeful leadership, peace and development,” he stated.
Akpabio, however, identified party unity as critical to achieving the APC’s electoral objectives, warning against divisions between old and new members.
“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.
“Those who were here yesterday have a history to honour, and those who arrived today have contributions to make. Neither history nor arrival should become an instrument of exclusion,” he said.
Drawing from the Bible, he cited John 14:2, where Jesus Christ declared that there were many mansions in His Father’s house, to illustrate the need for inclusiveness within the party.
“In this house, there are many mansions, enough for everyone! There is room for the pioneer and room for the newcomer; room for the elder and room for the youth; room for those who laid the foundation and room for those who will raise the roof.
“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,” he added.
He further urged political leaders and party members to ensure that their political activities reflected the values of their faith and respect for human dignity.
“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,” Akpabio said.
On national development, the Senate President maintained that the progress of Akwa Ibom could not be separated from the overall wellbeing of Nigeria.
He called for a collective commitment to national peace, security, prosperity and democratic stability.
“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.
“Nigeria is not merely the nation to which Akwa Ibom belongs; it is the larger destiny to which Akwa Ibom contributes. Let our unity demonstrate the possibilities of national brotherhood, and let our conduct strengthen the foundations of our democracy,” he said.
Earlier, Governor Umo Eno thanked the people of the state for their support during the last general elections.
He appealed for greater support for President Tinubu, Akpabio, himself and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
The governor also expressed his willingness to continue serving the people with the fear of God if given another mandate.
