By NEWSCOUNT Desk
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has assured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that Akwa Ibom State will deliver the highest number of votes for the President in the South-South region during the 2027 general elections.
Akpabio gave the assurance on Sunday at a special church service held at the International Christian Worship Centre, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to dedicate the APC’s 2027 election campaign to God.
The service, with the theme, “We Are Well Able,” brought together party leaders and supporters to seek divine guidance ahead of the elections.
Speaking at the gathering, the Senate President urged APC members and other indigenes of the state to close ranks, put aside their differences and work together to secure victory for the party.
He stressed that the state had a special reason to appreciate Tinubu, noting that the President’s support had helped an Akwa Ibom son emerge as President of the Senate and Nigeria’s third-ranking citizen.
“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 his address titled “One Family, One Destiny, One Akwa Ibom Under God,” Akpabio maintained that political unity must be anchored on fairness, inclusion and mutual respect.
He noted that while the people were seeking God’s guidance over their collective destiny, they must also uphold righteousness, justice and mercy in their dealings with one another.
Akpabio described Akwa Ibom as a Nigerian success story, attributing the state’s progress to purposeful leadership, peace and development.
He explained that development should not be measured only by roads, buildings and physical infrastructure but also by the bridges built among the people and the hope restored in their hearts.
The Senate President particularly cautioned against divisions within the APC, insisting that the party must accommodate both its founding members and those who joined later.
“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 stated.
Drawing inspiration from John 14:2, Akpabio likened the party to a household with enough room for everyone, irrespective of when they joined.
He maintained that neither old members nor newcomers should see their political positions as grounds for excluding others, stressing that nobody needed to demolish another person’s political mansion or extinguish another person’s candle to secure a place for himself.
Akpabio further urged political leaders to ensure that their ambitions did not take precedence over the welfare of the people.
He also stressed that Akwa Ibom’s development could not be separated from the overall progress of Nigeria, noting that the state must remain concerned about insecurity and economic challenges in other parts of the country.
“Nigeria is not merely the nation to which Akwa Ibom belongs; it is the larger destiny to which Akwa Ibom contributes,” he said, urging the people to demonstrate national unity through their conduct and commitment to democracy.
Earlier, Governor Umo Eno thanked the people of the state for their support during the last general elections and appealed for even greater support for Tinubu, Akpabio, himself and other APC candidates in the 2027 polls.
Eno also assured the people of his desire to continue serving them with the fear of God if given another mandate.
