Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said that more governors from opposition parties are putting finishing touches in preparation to joining President Bola Tinubu in the ruling party.

Akpabio stated this in his goodwill message at the launch of a book, ‘Ten Years Of Impactful Leadership of The APC Administration In Nigeria’, written by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and the commissioning of projects by President Bola Tinubu in Owerri.

“Mr President, with what you have done in the last two years, get ready to receive more governors from the opposition parties. As I speak there are several governors in Nigeria today that are ready to be received by you,” Akpabio said.

He stated further that Nigerians were beginning to see the positive outcomes of Tinubu’s reforms.

“The students, farmers and businessmen are all speaking on the various reforms you have brought into governance which are now yielding results in the overall interest and benefit of the people. If we say it, they will accuse us of rubber-stamping your achievements, but the beneficiaries are the ones talking about what you have done.

“I believe strongly in development and progress. I thank Governor Uzodimma for deciding to put history in writing in his Ten Years of Impactful Leadership of the APC Administration in Nigeria. If you don’t tell your story, others will tell it for you. Progressiveness is not in words, it is in action. The quality of works done by the governor is of high quality and the people of Imo State must be very, very excited,” he added.

Speaking further, Akpabio stressed that as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State 18 years ago, he was already a progressive based on the projects he executed.

The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, says the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government diminished Nigeria.

He noted that Nigeria was a promising nation before the coming of the APC government.

Obi spoke on Wednesday at a press conference on the state of the nation in Abuja.

“In 1999, we overcame military dictatorship and restored democracy, beginning a renewed journey toward prosperity, freedom, and justice.

“That journey helped us build Africa’s largest economy and strengthen democratic institutions. But over the last decade, under the APC’s incompetent, divisive, and corrupt leadership, Nigeria has been greatly diminished,” Obi said.

The former Anambra state governor said Nigeria had been poised at independence in 1960 to not only be the giant of Africa but a world powerhouse.

According to him, despite the polices of the current administration plunging over 15 million people below the poverty line in its first year alone, it still pursues a tax regime, demanding its citizens pay more to the government despite benefiting little or nothing in return.

The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa, PAACA, has urged political parties, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to interrogate Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, election guidelines and reviews ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This comes as the centre noted that 90 per cent of crimes during elections are committed by politicians, urging citizens to be empowered against manipulation.

The centre is known for an event in Sokoto in collaboration with the Federal Government and the MacArthur Foundation.

The centre tasked stakeholders to familiarise themselves with INEC’s guidelines to ensure credible elections in 2027.

“Ninety percent of crimes during elections are committed by politicians. If citizens are empowered with the right information, manipulation becomes difficult,” Nwagwu stated.

INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Sokoto State, Umar Yusuf Garba, represented by the Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Abdullahi Sale Dawa, described the event as an important platform to deepen understanding of electoral processes.

The Sokoto State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Babangida Kurfi, represented by Ms. Okeke Uche Ngozi, in his goodwill message said the town hall was timely, as it provided an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on electoral reforms, harness gains and identify areas for improvement.