By Abbanobi-Eku Onyeka
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has called on the people of Akwa Ibom State to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Umo Eno in the 2027 general elections.
Akpabio made the call in Uyo during activities marking the 39th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State, where he linked the state’s development and political stability with continuity in leadership.
The Senate President, a former governor of Akwa Ibom, commended Eno for what he described as his commitment to peace, rural development, economic advancement and the welfare of the people under the ARISE Agenda.
He also defended the economic reforms of the Tinubu administration, arguing that the policies were necessary for long-term economic stabilisation, industrialisation and infrastructure development.
“The case for re-electing President Tinubu rests on national stabilization and long-term economic reforms,” Akpabio said, describing the Renewed Hope agenda as a trajectory Nigeria should maintain.
Akpabio further called for stronger cooperation between Akwa Ibom and neighbouring Cross River State, stressing their historical and cultural ties. “We are one people, one history, and one future,” he said, while advocating, that institutionalised regional cooperation will unlock the economic potential of the South-South.
The Senate President also paid tribute to the founding fathers of Akwa Ibom, saying the state’s development had been driven by the resilience, talent and intellectual capacity of its people.
His comments came as Governor Eno, in his anniversary broadcast, said Akwa Ibom’s next development phase should move from infrastructure to industrialisation, agro-industrialisation, enterprise creation and job opportunities.
Akwa Ibom was created on September 23, 1987, and marked its 39th anniversary this month.
The anniversary activities have included plans for the commissioning of 39 projects across the state, reflecting the administration’s effort to link the celebration with its development programme.
Akpabio’s intervention has consequently added a political dimension to the anniversary celebrations, placing the relationship between Akwa Ibom, the federal government and the APC’s 2027 campaign in the spotlight.
