Vice President Kashim Shettima and Senate President Godswill Akpabio have intensified efforts to secure President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, declaring that the South-South is prepared to deliver overwhelming votes for him in appreciation of his administration’s investments in infrastructure, security, healthcare and economic development.
The two leaders made the declaration in Benin City, Edo State, where they highlighted Federal Government projects and interventions in the region, particularly Edo, as evidence of Tinubu’s commitment to development, while urging residents to sustain their support for the ruling administration.
Shettima said the Tinubu administration had made significant progress in addressing Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit and improving the welfare of citizens, disclosing that an additional 600 megawatts had been added to the national electricity grid, alongside the commissioning of the Amuri substation to strengthen power supply and support economic activities.
On healthcare, he cited improved services at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), including radiotherapy for cancer patients and subsidised dialysis for eligible patients. He also highlighted interventions at the Edo State Specialist Hospital and National Obstetrics Fistula Centre, as well as Federal Government support for 158 public health facilities across the state.
The Vice President listed education, vocational training and economic empowerment among the administration’s priorities, saying vulnerable citizens were receiving financial and business support, while young people were being equipped with vocational skills to improve their employment prospects. He added that improved remuneration and operational capacity for the armed forces and other security agencies reflected the government’s determination to tackle insecurity.
On the return of looted Benin artefacts, Shettima acknowledged the contributions of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, and other stakeholders, noting that institutions in Cambridge and Sweden had transferred ownership of several artefacts to Nigeria.
He urged Edo residents to assess the Tinubu administration based on its achievements and the impact of its policies, insisting that continuity was necessary to complete ongoing projects. ‘We have come this far with your trust, and we seek your mandate to finish the work we have begun,’ he said.
Akpabio, in his remarks, declared that the South-South would deliver massive electoral support for Tinubu in 2027, expressing confidence that the region would outperform other geopolitical zones in votes for the President.
Akpabio, in his remarks, declared that the South-South would deliver massive electoral support for Tinubu in 2027, expressing confidence that the region would outperform other geopolitical zones in votes for the President.
He specifically commended Tinubu for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, describing it as a long-standing development aspiration that previous administrations had failed to realise. He disclosed that an additional 100 kilometres had been incorporated into the project to extend its coverage across Edo State, expressing appreciation on behalf of the South-South for the intervention.
On security, the Senate President pointed to the establishment of additional military formations, a forward operational base, a Mobile Police base and an army division in Edo as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to securing the state. He also disclosed that more than 500 forest guards had been recruited from among Edo youths to strengthen security, particularly in forest communities.
He attributed improved development activities across the states to Tinubu’s promotion of fiscal federalism, arguing that increased allocations had strengthened the capacity of state governments to pay salaries, meet financial obligations and execute infrastructure projects. He noted that Edo was witnessing the emergence of its first set of flyovers, while several states across the South had become construction sites.
The Senate President also praised the administration’s support for universities and other development initiatives, insisting that the South-South had sufficient reasons to support Tinubu’s second-term ambition. He assured the President that the region would mobilise its political structures and electorate to deliver overwhelming votes in the 2027 presidential election.