Akpabio uses Akwa Ibom anniversary to rally support for Tinubu, Eno

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 on Wednesday in Uyo during activities marking the 39th anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State. The state was created on September 23, 1987, by the military administration of former Head of State Ibrahim Babangida.

The Senate President, a former governor of Akwa Ibom, commended Eno for what he described as his commitment to development, peace, rural development and economic advancement.

He argued that the progress of the state should transcend partisan considerations, while urging continuity in its development trajectory.

“I therefore commend Governor Umo Eno for sustaining the journey of development through the ARISE Agenda and for his commitment to peace, rural development, economic advancement and the welfare of our people,” Akpabio said.

On the 2027 presidential election, Akpabio described Tinubu as a friend of the South-South and said he expected the President to receive strong support from the region and other parts of the country.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a friend of the South-South zone, and he will get maximum victory from the region and other parts of the country,” he said.

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Akpabio’s comments place the political relationship between the federal government and the Akwa Ibom administration at the centre of the state’s political conversation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Eno, who is not a member of the APC, has maintained a working relationship with the federal administration, while Akpabio has publicly praised his development programmes.

Beyond politics, Akpabio used the anniversary to reflect on Akwa Ibom’s development since its creation, saying the state’s progress had been driven by the resilience, skills and contributions of its people.

“Our greatest resource has always been our people,” he said, highlighting the contributions of Akwa Ibom indigenes to public service, business, academia, sports and other sectors.

He also commended successive administrations for building on the foundations laid by previous governments and described the infrastructure and human-capital investments of earlier administrations as platforms for subsequent governments to develop.

The Senate President had earlier on Tuesday commissioned a 4.12-kilometre road network in Ikot Ekpene, including drainage and erosion-reclamation works, where he again commended Eno’s administration.

For his part, Eno, in his anniversary broadcast, said the state had recorded 39 years of faith, resilience, sacrifice and progress. He said his administration’s ARISE Agenda had focused on infrastructure, empowerment, education, healthcare and creating opportunities for residents.

As Akwa Ibom enters its 40th year, the public statements by Akpabio and Eno underscore the emphasis both leaders are placing on continuity, development and political cooperation, while the 2027 elections are likely to bring greater attention to the evolving relationship between the state and federal administrations.