President Bola Tinubu has defended his bid for a second term, citing his administration’s achievements over the past three years as justification for seeking another mandate in the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
The President said his government had “a million reasons” to seek re-election, pointing to infrastructure projects, investments in education and renewable energy, employment programmes and efforts to improve security across the country.
Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, made the remarks on Monday during the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign rally in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, where he urged voters to support the ruling party in the forthcoming general elections.
Highlighting his administration’s infrastructure projects in the state, Tinubu listed the Calabar-Ebonyi-Okigwe-Nasarawa-Abuja Superhighway, the Trans-Saharan Highway, the bridge linking Ebonyi and Cross River states, and the Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Expressway.
He said, “Good people of Ebonyi State, we are honouring our promises because you elected His Excellency, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, as the APC flagbearer. We are also honouring our promises because the sons and daughters of this state worked day and night for the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Where shall we begin the account of our work? Shall we begin with the Calabar-Ebonyi-Okigwe-Nasarawa-Abuja Superhighway? What about the Trans-Saharan Highway or the bridge linking Ebonyi State with Cross River State? We are also advancing work on the Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Expressway and the Ogoja-Arochukwu-Cross River Road. Again, I ask where shall we begin?”
The President also disclosed that his administration had set aside funds for renewable energy projects at eight locations in Ebonyi State, aimed at providing electricity to homes and businesses.
He added that construction had commenced on the renovation of housing estates to provide more families with decent accommodation.
On education, Tinubu said the Federal Government was supporting students and institutions through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.
He also said thousands of people in the state had benefited from grants under the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme, while government employment and digital skills programmes were helping young people acquire skills and build sustainable livelihoods.
On security, the President said his administration had intensified efforts to address insecurity, noting that the Nigerian Army Recruit Training Depot in Amasiri, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, had commenced operations.
He further highlighted the establishment of the South-East Development Commission, the launch of the South-East Vision 2050 and the approval of the South-East Investment Company as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to promote development in the region.
“We understand the relationship between security and livelihoods. We have a million reasons to return with confidence, but we do not take your support for granted,” Tinubu said.
He added that Ebonyi State now had more resources to address its development needs following the increase in revenue allocations to states.
“Governor Francis Nwifuru is putting those resources to work, and we salute his stewardship. We appreciate Governor Nwifuru,” he said.
Tinubu also commended the governor for sharing the same political alignment with the ruling party, praising his collaboration with the three senators representing Ebonyi State, the seven members of the House of Representatives and members of the State House of Assembly.
The President expressed confidence that Ebonyi voters would support the APC in the 2027 elections.
“I believe that on January 16, 2027, you will come out en masse and vote for the APC from top to bottom and bottom to top,” he said.