By Sunday Anthony, Uyo
Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Sunday assured the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu that Akwa Ibom State would deliver the highest number of votes in the South-South zone in the 2027 general elections.
Akpabio spoke at a special service held at the International Christian Worship Centre in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital. The service was organised to dedicate the APC’s 2027 election campaigns to God under the theme “We Are Well Able.”
To fulfil the promise, the Senate President urged Akwa Ibom indigenes, particularly members of the state APC chapter, to close ranks and present a united front for the party’s success at the polls.
He said an Akwa Ibom son had, through the support of President Tinubu, become President of the Senate and the number three citizen of Nigeria.
“Whether you like him or not, he is there today. The only way to thank Mr President for that support is to give him all our votes, and from what I have seen here today, Akwa Ibom State will give Mr President the highest number of votes in the South-South region,” Akpabio said.
In an address titled “One Family, One Destiny, One Akwa Ibom Under God,” the Senate President said God is involved in the affairs of humanity and acknowledged His sovereignty over individual and collective destinies.
“But the God whose guidance we seek is also the God who demands righteousness, justice and mercy,” he said.
He described Akwa Ibom as “a Nigerian wonder story, a testimony to the possibilities of purposeful leadership, peace and development,” adding that progress is not only about roads and buildings but also about the bridges built between people and the hope restored in human hearts.
Speaking on unity within the APC, Akpabio said there should be no “aborigines and newcomers; no landlords and tenants; no first-class members and no second-class members” in the party.
Citing the Bible, he said: “Our Lord Jesus Christ declared in John 14:2: ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions.’ Let me borrow that beautiful imagery today. In this house, there are many mansions, enough for everyone! There is room for the pioneer and room for the newcomer; room for the elder and room for the youth; room for those who laid the foundation and room for those who will raise the roof.
“Nobody needs to demolish another person’s mansion to find accommodation, and nobody needs to extinguish another person’s candle for his own light to shine. We may have arrived through different doors, but we must learn to live under one roof.”
Akpabio also said the state’s politics must reflect its faith, adding that campaigns must honour human dignity and that ambitions must never outweigh the welfare of the people.
He noted that Akwa Ibom’s greatness is inseparable from Nigeria’s greatness, saying the state cannot desire peace in Uyo while being indifferent to insecurity elsewhere in the federation.
Earlier, Governor Umo Eno had thanked the people for their support in the last election and appealed for stronger support for President Tinubu, Akpabio, himself and all APC candidates in the next election.
He assured the people of his commitment to continue serving them with the fear of God if given another mandate.
