2027: Akpabio urges northern youths to back Tinubu, says reforms need time

By Musa Baba Adamu

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has appealed to Northern youths to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in 2027, arguing that the administration’s economic reforms need continuity to deliver their full benefits.

Akpabio made the appeal during the weekend in Abuja while receiving a delegation of the Northern Ethnic Groups Assembly.

The Senate President defended some of the administration’s most controversial economic policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and reforms in the foreign exchange market, describing them as difficult but necessary measures to address longstanding weaknesses in the Nigerian economy.

According to Akpabio, the reforms should not be judged solely by the immediate hardship they caused, but by their potential to create a more sustainable economic system.

“The reforms initiated by President Tinubu are not abstract theories; they are concrete, courageous actions designed to dismantle long-standing structural bottlenecks and unlock Nigeria’s vast potential,” he said.

He acknowledged that the policies had initially imposed significant difficulties on Nigerians but maintained that the government had been forced to make difficult choices to redirect public resources towards healthcare, education and infrastructure.

“While these measures initially posed challenges, they were the surgical procedures needed to redirect resources into healthcare, education, and infrastructure,” Akpabio said.

The Senate President also claimed that the reforms were beginning to generate positive indicators, including improved government revenue, greater investor confidence and renewed interest from international partners.

He therefore urged Nigerians, particularly young people in the North, to remain engaged with the administration’s economic programme and resist what he described as misinformation about government policies.

“You are architects of today, not just leaders of tomorrow,” he told the youth leaders.

Akpabio’s comments effectively placed economic policy continuity at the centre of the argument for Tinubu’s re-election, suggesting that changing direction after the current administration’s reforms could jeopardize gains he believes are beginning to emerge.

He said the 10th National Assembly was also working to promote transparency, accountability and the rule of law, urging young Nigerians to participate actively in governance.

“We urge you to be critical consumers of information and to engage in constructive dialogue,” he said.

The development comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections intensify, with politicians and political groups increasingly seeking to consolidate support among influential voter blocs.

Speaking on behalf of the Northern Ethnic Groups Assembly, its spokesperson, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan-Musa, commended Akpabio for what he described as efforts to strengthen political understanding between Northern and Southern Nigeria.