Senate President Godswill Akpabio has made a fresh case for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, urging Northern youths to support the administration’s economic reforms and policy continuity.
Akpabio made the appeal on Saturday in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the Northern Ethnic Groups Assembly.
The Senate President defended some of the administration’s most controversial economic measures, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and foreign exchange reforms, describing them as difficult but necessary steps to address structural problems in the Nigerian economy.
According to Akpabio, the reforms have now reached a stage where their benefits are beginning to emerge, arguing that abandoning the programme before it is consolidated could undermine the progress he believes is being recorded.
“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.”
Akpabio acknowledged that the policies created significant difficulties for Nigerians when they were introduced but said the government needed to redirect resources previously committed to subsidies towards sectors such as healthcare, education and infrastructure.
“While these measures initially posed challenges, they were the surgical procedures needed to redirect resources into healthcare, education, and infrastructure.”
He also pointed to improved revenue collection, investor confidence and renewed interest from international partners as indicators that the reforms are beginning to produce results.
Those claims reflect the position of the Tinubu administration, which has consistently defended the removal of the petrol subsidy and exchange-rate reforms as necessary measures for stabilising the economy. The presidency has similarly pointed to improvements in areas including revenue, investment and macroeconomic stability.
Akpabio’s comments, however, come against the backdrop of continued political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with supporters of Tinubu increasingly making the case that the administration needs another term to consolidate its policies.
The Senate President urged the Northern youths to take a more active role in governance and policy discussions.
“You are architects of today, not just leaders of tomorrow.”
He said the 10th National Assembly was also working on reforms aimed at improving transparency, accountability and the rule of law, while encouraging the youth leaders to scrutinise information and participate constructively in political discussions.
“We urge you to be critical consumers of information and to engage in constructive dialogue.”
The meeting also produced political support for continued engagement between Northern youth organisations and the Federal Government.
Speaking on behalf of the Northern Ethnic Groups Assembly, its spokesperson, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan-Musa, commended Akpabio’s engagement with the group and described it as an effort to strengthen political understanding between Northern and Southern Nigeria.
“We commend the Senate President for his accessibility and his unwavering dedication to the Nigerian project.”
Dan-Musa said the group would support grassroots efforts aimed at explaining the Federal Government’s economic policies to Nigerians, particularly communities it believes may not have sufficient information about the reforms.
The assembly identified continuous consultation with Northern youth groups, grassroots education on federal fiscal policies and national cohesion as key areas for its political engagement ahead of 2027.
The group also called for continued consultation between the Federal Government and Northern youth organisations, while pledging to organise awareness campaigns aimed at explaining the government’s economic policies to rural communities.
Akpabio’s intervention adds to a growing series of political efforts to build support for Tinubu’s 2027 bid, particularly around the argument that the administration’s economic programme requires more time to deliver its intended results.
Northern political and youth groups have previously expressed support for policy continuity under Tinubu, with some arguing that reversing the reforms could disrupt the economic adjustments already underway.
The latest appeal therefore places economic reform and continuity at the centre of the emerging 2027 campaign argument, as political mobilisation gradually intensifies across the country.
Tinubu’s administration removed the petrol subsidy and introduced major foreign exchange reforms after taking office in 2023. The government has continued to defend the measures despite criticism over their impact on the cost of living.
With the 2027 election approaching, Akpabio’s appeal to Northern youths signals an effort to frame the next presidential contest around whether Nigerians should allow the current reform programme to continue or support a different political direction.
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