Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that nobody can infiltrate the National Assembly to undermine President Bola Tinubu, assuring the president that lawmakers are firmly behind his re-election bid in 2027.
Akpabio gave the assurance while speaking at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential Campaign Council on Wednesday in Abuja.
He described the political support for Tinubu as a demonstration of confidence in his administration.
He said the president’s second-term campaign had brought together politicians across party lines, describing the development as an unusual feature of Nigeria’s democratic experience since 1999.
“This is historic, and this is uncommon. This has never happened in the history of our democracy since 1999, that the sitting president will constitute his presidential campaign council with almost all the parties in Nigeria, inclusive,” Akpabio said.
The Senate president cited the presence of political figures from opposition parties in the campaign council as evidence that political differences should not prevent cooperation in the interest of the country.
Among those he acknowledged were Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party.
Akpabio said that their participation reflected the importance of individual contributions to governance, irrespective of party affiliation.
He also expressed confidence that Tinubu’s administration was gaining recognition among Nigerians because of its reforms, which he said had strengthened the president’s case for another term.
“Mr President, it’s because of your personae, because you’ve done well and you deserve a second term in office,” he said.
Reaffirming the legislature’s position, Akpabio told Tinubu that those seeking to destabilise his government would not succeed through the National Assembly.
“What is happening tonight is the fact that Nigerians are seeing your reforms, and Nigerians have also seen the fact that nobody can break through the national assembly to destabilise you. We are solidly behind you,” he said.
The Senate president also disclosed that some lawmakers were eager to participate in the campaign, adding that several senators had questioned why they were not accompanying him to the inauguration.
“In fact, when I was coming, a lot of senators were dragging my clothes and said, ‘SP, are you leaving us behind? Let us just come with you,’” he said.
He told Tinubu that he would seek approval to bring more lawmakers, including members of the opposition, to future campaign engagements.
“Your Excellency, I want your permission to come next time with the minority leader and those in the minorities in the national assembly,” Akpabio said, naming Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, among those he intended to bring.
The Senate president also urged governors to remain focused on their responsibilities to the people rather than becoming distracted by ambitions for other political offices.
Drawing on his experience as a former governor, Akpabio said elected officials should prioritise delivering on their mandates.
“And for my brothers who are governors, I want you to know that you must not abandon your people,” he said.
“I did eight years as a governor. And the constitution says you should do eight years. There’s no need for you to start eyeing another position that is not available.”
Akpabio also urged Tinubu to consider advice from Soludo, recounting an analogy the Anambra governor reportedly used to caution against attempting to fix something that was not broken.
“He said, if the clothes is not torn, why try to mend it? If you try to mend it, you are doing what? You are going to tear the clothes,” he said.
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