Tinubu takes re-election campaign to Akwa Ibom, Rivers, commissions projects

•President to honour promise to visit selected states as APC intensifies mobilisation for 2027 polls

President Bola Tinubu will on Friday begin a two-state visit to Akwa Ibom and Rivers states, combining the inauguration of major infrastructure projects with political engagements as the All Progressives Congress (APC) intensifies its mobilisation for the 2027 general elections.

The President will begin the visit in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, where he is scheduled to commission several projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration and attend a political rally before proceeding to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday for another APC rally.

Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the itinerary in a statement issued on Thursday, November 5.

The visit comes against the backdrop of Tinubu’s earlier declaration that he would attend campaign rallies in selected states rather than accompany the APC campaign team across the country, citing the demands of governance, the government’s financial responsibilities and the need to attract investments.

At the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja on October 14, Tinubu said he would make time to address Nigerians directly at selected campaign events while other party leaders mobilised support across the states and local government areas.

The President subsequently attended the party’s campaign flag-off rally in Kaduna on October 24, marking his first personal appearance at a campaign event since the commencement of the re-election mobilisation.

The APC’s proposed campaign itinerary provides for Tinubu’s participation in rallies across 12 states between October 2026 and January 2027, with party leaders expected to represent him at other campaign events.

The latest trip therefore represents another phase of the President’s selective campaign appearances as the ruling party seeks to consolidate its political base and broaden support ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Projects lined up for inauguration

In Akwa Ibom, Tinubu will commission the new International Terminal Building at Victor Attah International Airport, the International Airport Hospital and the Ibom Aviation Village.

Other projects scheduled for inauguration include the Airport-Okopedi Road, connecting communities in Nsit Atai and Okobo Local Government Areas, and Ring Road 3, which links Idoro Road to Ikot Ekpene Road through Uyo and Ibiono Ibom Local Government Areas.

The President will also inaugurate the AKWA-GIS Office Complex, the Command and Control Centre and the ARISE Palm Resort.

According to Onanuga, the projects were completed by the Eno administration as part of its infrastructure and development programme.

In anticipation of the presidential visit, Eno has declared Friday a work-free day to enable residents to participate in activities marking Tinubu’s arrival.

From Uyo to Port Harcourt

After his engagements in Akwa Ibom, Tinubu will travel to Port Harcourt on Saturday to participate in an APC rally in Rivers State.

Onanuga described the Rivers rally as the President’s third since he formally launched his re-election campaign in Kaduna last month.

The presidential spokesman said the visits would also provide opportunities for Tinubu to engage with political stakeholders, party members and supporters, while promoting unity, political stability and a shared commitment to national progress.

The two-state tour is particularly significant for the APC’s political positioning in the South-South, where the party is seeking to strengthen its structures and consolidate support ahead of the next general election.

In Akwa Ibom, the visit follows Eno’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in June 2025, after he was elected governor in 2023 on the PDP platform.

Eno said his decision to join the ruling party was intended to align the state more closely with the Federal Government to facilitate development and attract greater federal support. He has also endorsed Tinubu’s bid for a second term.

The President’s appearance at a political rally in Uyo will provide an opportunity for the APC to reinforce that political alliance and mobilise support for his re-election.

The Rivers rally, meanwhile, forms part of the ruling party’s broader efforts to sustain momentum following the Kaduna campaign launch.

Balancing governance with electioneering

Tinubu’s decision to attend selected campaign events reflects the challenge of combining the responsibilities of the presidency with the demands of seeking re-election.

While the President has indicated that he will not personally attend rallies in every state, the APC intends to maintain nationwide mobilisation through its campaign council, governors, party officials and other political stakeholders.

His planned appearances in Akwa Ibom and Rivers will therefore serve both official and political purposes: showcasing projects completed by a state government and engaging party members and supporters as the 2027 election approaches.

The visits also come amid heightened political activity, with parties and potential candidates positioning themselves for the next electoral contest.

For the APC, the immediate task is to translate its campaign mobilisation and political alliances into sustained electoral support. For Tinubu, the challenge will be to convince Nigerians that his administration’s policies and development programmes justify another four-year mandate.