As the APC prepares to kick off campaigns for 2027, Senate President Godswill Akpabio says the Tinubu administration has a strong record to run on. But with economic hardship still biting many Nigerians, the party’s claim of transformation will face a tough test at the polls. Here is a balanced look at Akpabio’s claims, the context, and what lies ahead, reports Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka Our Managing Editor.
Speaking in Uyo on Monday, Akpabio declared that President Tinubu had “done a lot for Nigerians” in three years, citing economic reforms that, according to him, had rescued states from salary and pension arrears.
His central argument was that the APC would go into the 2027 elections with “unprecedented achievements” in the economy, agriculture, security, education and fiscal policy. The message is clear: give us another term based on results.
The claim about 27 states unable to pay salaries when Tinubu assumed office in 2023 is verifiable. Many states were indeed in arrears due to dwindling FAAC allocations and subsidy payments. The improvement in state finances in 2024-2025 has also been attributed to increased federal allocations post-subsidy removal.
However, while state governments may be paying salaries more regularly now, the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira have also triggered high inflation, which continues to erode household purchasing power. That tension will define the 2027 debate.
Akpabio also pointed to education as a key win, referencing NELFund and TETFund. The student loan scheme and tertiary education interventions are popular with parents and students, and the Senate committee’s oversight in Akwa Ibom underscores the government’s effort to showcase them.
On security, the administration has recorded some gains in certain regions, but challenges persist in the North West, North Central and South East. The APC will need to present more than promises if it wants to convince voters in those areas.
Akpabio’s jab at the opposition “Someone who is challenging him cannot even tell us what he did when he was governor” signals the tone of the coming campaign: a contest of records. It also suggests the APC intends to run on incumbency and infrastructure rather than personality.
The Senate President’s assurance to outgoing colleagues that “loyalty will not go unappreciated” hints at internal party management ahead of 2027. With some APC lawmakers likely to be dropped, keeping the caucus united will be critical.
His dismissal of “social media”_ as “garbage in, garbage out” reflects a broader APC strategy to focus on physical projects and direct engagement rather than online narratives, which have often been hostile to the government.
Politically, Akpabio’s confidence that “Nigerians will separate the chaff from the grain and re-elect Tinubu”_ mirrors the party’s 2023 playbook. But 2027 will be different — it will be a referendum on three years of Tinubu’s reforms, not just on the APC brand.
For the opposition, Akpabio’s challenge is both an opening and a trap. If they fail to present a coherent alternative with their own records, the APC’s “what have we done”argument could stick.
In the end, the 2027 election will likely hinge on one question: have Nigerians felt the impact of the reforms in their pockets? Akpabio believes the answer is yes. Voters will decide if they agree.
