Senate President Godswill Akpabio has started campaigning for President Bola Tinubu’s second term in 2027. On Saturday in Abuja, he urged Northern youths to rally behind the administration’s economic reforms and to support continuing the current policy direction.
Akpabio spoke while hosting a delegation from the Northern Ethnic Groups Assembly at the National Assembly complex.
He said the steps taken by the Tinubu government, including ending fuel subsidy and reforming the foreign exchange market, were tough but needed to reset the economy.
According to him, those policies have reached a turning point and are already delivering visible results for citizens.
“I address you today not just as a politician, but as someone committed to the growth of our country, especially this important region,” Akpabio told the youth leaders.
He described the reforms as practical and bold moves meant to break long-standing structural barriers and tap into Nigeria’s full potential, rather than ideas on paper.
The Senate President noted that removing the fuel subsidy and working to stabilize forex were key to putting government finances on a sustainable path.
He admitted the decisions created hardship at first, but said they were necessary to channel public funds into health, education, and infrastructure.
Akpabio added that early signs of progress are showing, with better revenue generation, growing investor confidence, and increased interest from international partners.
He called on Northern youths to get involved in governance now instead of waiting for later.
“You are not just leaders of the future. You are building the country today,” he said.
He also said the 10th National Assembly is focused on legislation that will improve transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law.
“Your ideas and participation keep these reforms alive,” Akpabio said. “We encourage you to verify information carefully and take part in honest conversations.”
His remarks come as political activities for the 2027 general elections pick up nationwide. The push for continuity is now a central part of the case for another Tinubu term.
Akpabio warned that dropping the reform agenda before it is fully entrenched could reverse the progress already made.
Responding, the spokesperson for the Northern Ethnic Groups Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan-Musa, praised Akpabio for promoting better understanding between the North and South.
“We appreciate the Senate President for being accessible and for his steady commitment to the Nigerian project,” Dan-Musa said. “His outreach has helped restore trust. He has shown that real national leadership goes beyond ethnicity and location.”
The group also promised to carry out grassroots mobilization to inform Nigerians about what it called the long-term gains of the federal government’s economic policies.
Dan-Musa stressed that national unity should come before regional or sectional interests.
“National unity is the foundation of our survival as a people. No regional interest should override the peace and sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
The assembly listed three priorities for its work ahead of 2027: ongoing consultations with Northern youth groups, public education on federal fiscal policies, and a firm commitment to national cohesion.
The coalition said federal authorities must continue to engage Northern youth organizations with respect and openness. It also plans awareness drives to explain government economic policies to rural communities, to counter misinformation and help people understand how the reforms affect them.
