The Senate on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution declaring that there is no vacancy in the office of the Senate President, currently occupied by Senator Godswill Akpabio, amid what lawmakers described as political attacks against the leadership of the upper legislative chamber.

The resolution followed remarks by Akpabio during plenary, where he cautioned against the misrepresentation of his comments on a bill seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria.

Akpabio said his contributions to the debate had been taken out of context, insisting that he would not make disparaging remarks about any religion. He also stressed that terrorism should not be associated with any particular religion, arguing that those responsible for destabilising the country should not be defined by religious identity.

The Senate President explained that his comments on the proposed legislation were made in the context of ongoing legislative deliberations and contemporary approaches to lawmaking.

He further disclosed that his aide-de-camp (ADC), who had served him for 19 years, was a Muslim, adding that his personal and professional relationships reflected his respect for different religious beliefs.

Speaking amid the controversy, Akpabio said the offices of President and Vice-President had already been settled, suggesting that the Senate Presidency had become a target of political attacks.

Supporting the resolution, Senator Fasuyi backed a motion moved by Senator Monguno, affirming that the Senate President’s seat was not vacant and would remain occupied by Akpabio.

Similarly, Senator Babangida Hussaini expressed support for Akpabio’s continued leadership, highlighting his contributions to his state and endorsing his return. Hussaini also called for urgent action to tackle hard drugs and substance abuse, which he linked to criminality, banditry and terrorism.

The controversy stemmed from Tuesday’s plenary, when the Senate considered a bill seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide and establish a framework for suicide prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

During the debate, Senator Asuquo, who presented the bill, argued that survivors of suicide attempts should receive medical and psychological care rather than face prosecution and imprisonment.

He explained that the proposed legislation would replace criminal punishment with a coordinated system of clinical assessment, treatment, referrals and follow-up support for survivors.

According to him, the bill would also provide a legal and institutional framework for suicide prevention involving government agencies, healthcare facilities, first responders and communities.

Asuquo maintained that criminalising attempted suicide could discourage vulnerable people from seeking help and potentially compel some to take more drastic measures out of fear of imprisonment.

However, Akpabio was reported to have responded that attempted suicide remained a criminal offence under the existing legal framework, making remarks that subsequently generated public controversy.

The proposed legislation seeks to shift Nigeria’s response to attempted suicide from punishment to prevention, medical intervention and rehabilitation, ensuring that survivors can access appropriate care.

The Senate’s Thursday resolution declaring that there is no vacancy in the Senate Presidency came amid the public debate surrounding Akpabio’s comments, with lawmakers expressing support for his continued leadership of the chamber.

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has described the broad political support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council as an unusual development in Nigeria’s democratic history.

Soludo made the observation on Wednesday, October 14, in Abuja, noting that the participation of political leaders and stakeholders from different party affiliations reflected a significant level of cross-party cooperation around the President’s re-election bid.

In his remarks, the governor, who was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said his party’s support for Tinubu was driven by shared interests in national unity, security and economic prosperity.

He pointed to the presence of approximately 31 governors at the gathering as an indication of the broad political alignment surrounding the President, while the participation of political figures across party lines underscored the growing dynamics of political cooperation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Soludo, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, also defended the economic direction of the Tinubu administration, describing its policy approach as *pragmatic progressivism*.

Drawing on his background in economics, he argued that the administration had demonstrated a willingness to confront longstanding structural challenges and implement difficult reforms aimed at stabilising the economy and laying the foundation for sustainable growth.

According to the governor, the administration’s economic decisions should be assessed against the structural challenges confronting Nigeria, as well as the broader objectives of fiscal stability, economic recovery and national prosperity.

While acknowledging the wider debate over the impact of economic reforms on ordinary Nigerians, Soludo maintained that addressing deep-rooted economic challenges required difficult policy choices and sustained commitment to reform.

His participation in the APC Presidential Campaign Council inauguration, despite his membership of APGA, further highlighted the evolving nature of political alliances and cross-party engagement in Nigeria.

In a review of the event, the Media and Publicity Team of the Forum of Chief Executives of Federal Parastatals (FORCEPA) identified Soludo’s intervention as a significant contribution to discussions on economic policy, political consensus and national development ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

FORCEPA emphasised the importance of effective public institutions in translating government policies into measurable development outcomes, promoting accountability and ensuring that credible information on public-sector performance is accessible to Nigerians.

The Forum noted that sustained political engagement and objective assessments of economic policies remain essential to strengthening democratic governance and advancing national development.

ABUJA — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general election, with senior APC leaders, governors and prominent opposition politicians declaring support for his re-election bid and pledging to mobilise voters nationwide.

The inauguration, held on Wednesday at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, brought together key figures from the executive, legislature and political parties, signalling the commencement of a coordinated political mobilisation effort aimed at securing a second term for the President.

Those who spoke at the event expressed confidence in Tinubu’s leadership, highlighting his administration’s economic reforms, revenue mobilisation efforts and broader policy direction as reasons for supporting the continuation of his government beyond 2027.

Among the prominent figures at the ceremony were Vice President Kashim Shettima; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin; Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas; Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu; Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma; and APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda.

The gathering also featured the presence of Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, whose political affiliations outside the APC have added another dimension to the emerging coalition of support around Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

Their participation underscores the importance of cross-party alliances, political negotiations and nationwide grassroots mobilisation in the contest for the presidency in 2027.

TINUBU’S RE-ELECTION BID: ‘PROTECT THE REFORMS, CONSOLIDATE THE GAINS’

Vice President Kashim Shettima made a strong case for Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that the administration’s ongoing reform agenda should not be abandoned midway.

According to him, the country cannot afford to lose the momentum generated by the policies introduced since the administration assumed office in May 2023.

“President Tinubu deserves a second term because the work has applied momentum that Nigeria cannot afford to squander. We must protect the reforms, improve the execution and carry their benefits from the treasury to the households,” Shettima said.

The Vice President’s remarks reflected the administration’s argument that the economic and institutional changes introduced during Tinubu’s first term require continuity to deliver their intended results.

His emphasis on improving implementation and ensuring that the benefits of government policies reach households also highlights the challenge confronting the administration: translating macroeconomic adjustments and increased public revenue into tangible improvements in citizens’ living conditions.

For the APC, the 2027 campaign is therefore expected to centre not only on defending the rationale behind the reforms but also on demonstrating their practical impact on businesses, workers, families and vulnerable Nigerians.

AKPABIO PLEDGES LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL SUPPORT

Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured Tinubu that members of the Presidential Campaign Council would work to communicate the administration’s achievements and political message to Nigerians across the country.

Akpabio described the inauguration as an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of the party’s campaign leadership to promoting the President’s agenda and strengthening national unity.

“Tonight, mine is to say thank you for this wonderful gathering. You are about to inaugurate us as your presidential campaign council, I assure you as one of them that we will do our best to carry the message of your transformation, message of your love, message of your unity of Nigeria to all and sundry,” he said.

His remarks placed emphasis on strategic communication and political outreach, two areas expected to play significant roles as the campaign gathers momentum.

With the National Assembly leadership represented at the inauguration, the ruling party is seeking to align its legislative and political structures with the broader objective of securing Tinubu’s re-election.

ABBAS: APC WILL CAMPAIGN WARD BY WARD, DOOR TO DOOR

Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas outlined an aggressive grassroots mobilisation strategy, declaring that the APC would take its campaign to every constituency, ward, street and household.

He argued that while Tinubu’s first term had focused on laying the groundwork for economic and institutional reforms, a second term should concentrate on consolidating those measures and translating them into measurable benefits for Nigerians.

“We will campaign constituency by constituency, ward by ward, street by street, door to door,” Abbas declared.

He added that the next phase of the administration should build on the foundations established during its first term.

“The first term confronted instability, the second term must consolidate. The first term laid the foundation, the second term must complete the structure. The first term expanded public revenue, the second term must turn revenue into public value. Nigeria has paid the price of reform, Nigeria must now receive the dividend of consolidation,” the Speaker said.

Abbas’s position highlights the APC’s emerging campaign narrative: presenting the first term as a period of difficult policy adjustments and promising that a second term would focus more directly on the benefits of those decisions.

His emphasis on ward-to-ward and door-to-door mobilisation also suggests that the party intends to rely on its extensive grassroots structures to engage voters, counter opposition arguments and communicate its policy priorities.

However, the effectiveness of that strategy will depend significantly on the extent to which Nigerians experience improvements in purchasing power, employment opportunities, infrastructure, public services and general economic conditions before the election.

UZODIMMA DECLARES GOVERNORS’ SUPPORT FOR TINUBU

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who chairs the Progressive Governors Forum, reaffirmed the support of the APC-aligned governors for the President.

He said the governors had gathered to express confidence in Tinubu’s handling of the mandate entrusted to him by Nigerians in 2023.

“We have come to tell you that we are proud of what you have done with the mandate that Nigerians gave to you in 2023,” Uzodimma said.

The endorsement is politically significant because state governors occupy influential positions within the party’s mobilisation machinery. Their control of political structures and relationships with local party leaders makes them important actors in presidential campaigns.

For the APC, securing coordination among governors, federal lawmakers, party executives and grassroots organisers will be central to its preparations for the 2027 election.

SOLUDO: APGA SUPPORTS NATIONAL UNITY AND SHARED PROSPERITY

Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), also declared support for Tinubu, citing national unity, security and shared prosperity as key considerations.

Soludo said his party believed in the unity and security of Nigeria and in the need to pursue prosperity for the country.

“We in APGA believe in the unity of Nigeria, we believe in the security of Nigeria, we believe in the shared prosperity of Nigeria and that is part of the reason why we are throwing our weight behind the president who symbolises these three pillars for the now Nigeria and Nigeria of tomorrow,” he said.

His declaration adds to the political significance of the inauguration, given that APGA is a separate political party with its own structures and electoral interests.

Soludo’s presence may strengthen the APC’s efforts to project Tinubu’s candidacy as one capable of attracting support beyond the ruling party’s traditional political base.

Nevertheless, the practical implications of his endorsement for APGA’s formal position and its electoral arrangements will depend on subsequent party decisions and political developments.

WIKE REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR TINUBU’S SECOND TERM

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, also expressed support for Tinubu’s re-election, describing the level of backing around the President as exceptional in Nigeria’s political history.

Wike, a prominent figure associated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has remained a significant political actor beyond the APC’s formal membership.

“To reconfirm that never in our political history that a president has had the kind of support, encouragement to say that Nigerians indeed will want you back to complete the good works you have started,” Wike said.

His involvement in Tinubu’s re-election campaign underscores the role of political alliances that cut across party lines.

For the President, such support could provide additional access to political networks and influential stakeholders in areas where the APC may face competitive electoral challenges.

At the same time, the emergence of cross-party alliances is likely to intensify debate over political loyalty, party identity and the calculations that shape Nigeria’s multiparty system ahead of a general election.

ADELEKE PREDICTS VICTORY, PROMISES TO LEAD THE MOVEMENT

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who belongs to the Accord Party, expressed optimism about Tinubu’s chances in the 2027 election and pledged to support the political movement backing the President.

Adeleke used an energetic tone to convey his confidence in the emerging campaign.

“I am the light and the light is here. I can feel the victory coming in 2027. Nobody can stop this movement, I am ready to lead this movement. We are going to sing, we are going to dance all the way back to Aso Rock,” he said.

His remarks further reinforced the cross-party character of the inauguration, with politicians from different political platforms publicly aligning themselves with Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

However, the ultimate electoral impact of such endorsements will depend on the ability of the campaign to translate elite political support into voter mobilisation, particularly at the polling-unit level.

YILWATDA: APC WILL MOBILISE NIGERIANS FOR TINUBU’S RE-ELECTION

APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda called on Nigerians to support Tinubu’s re-election, describing the President as the most credible candidate among those expected to contest the 2027 presidential election.

“We will ask Nigerians to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 because we believe he is the most credible among all the candidates presented,” Yilwatda said.

The party chairman’s remarks underscored the APC’s intention to organise a nationwide campaign that will combine the promotion of the administration’s record with an appeal for continuity.

The party is expected to rely on its national, state and local government structures to coordinate mobilisation, disseminate campaign messages and strengthen engagement with voters.

Yilwatda’s declaration also signals the party’s determination to begin shaping the political narrative ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested presidential election.

INSIDE THE APC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL

Under the leadership structure announced at the inauguration, President Tinubu will serve as chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council, with Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda occupying the positions of first and second vice chairmen, respectively.

Former Zamfara State Governor and Senator Abdulaziz Yari has been named Director-General of the council, while Governor Hope Uzodimma will serve as secretary.

The expanded council also includes prominent politicians outside the APC, including Wike of the PDP, Soludo of APGA and Adeleke of the Accord Party.

The inclusion of these figures reflects the campaign’s emphasis on building a broad political support base ahead of the election.

The council is expected to coordinate nationwide campaign activities, manage political mobilisation, oversee strategic communications, engage key stakeholders and communicate the administration’s achievements and policy priorities to the electorate.

Its effectiveness will depend on how efficiently it coordinates the various interests represented within the council and translates its national leadership structure into an organised grassroots campaign.

2027: POLITICAL ALLIANCES, ECONOMIC REFORMS AND VOTER EXPECTATIONS

The inauguration marks an important step in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election, bringing together party leaders, federal lawmakers, governors and politicians from other parties in support of Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

The event also provides an early indication of the campaign’s likely messaging priorities: continuity, consolidation of economic reforms, national unity, improved policy implementation and the promise of translating government revenue into public benefits.

For the ruling party, the challenge will be to demonstrate that the difficult economic decisions taken since 2023 are producing meaningful improvements in the daily lives of Nigerians.

While the endorsements announced at the inauguration may strengthen Tinubu’s political position, electoral success will ultimately depend on a broader range of factors, including economic performance, public confidence, security, opposition strategy, party organisation and voter turnout.

As the 2027 election approaches, the APC will need to convert the political support displayed at the State House into sustained engagement with Nigerians across the country.

The inauguration has therefore opened a new phase of political mobilisation for Tinubu’s re-election bid, setting the stage for an increasingly competitive contest over the country’s leadership, economic direction and future policy choices.