President Bola Tinubu has told opposition figures and party supporters that elections are decided by voters in communities, not by debates on social media. He spoke through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Renewed Hope Ambassadors Strategic Summit in Abuja.
Tinubu urged members of the All Progressives Congress to take government policies and messages directly to wards, markets, campuses and other grassroots areas. He said this face to face engagement is vital for countering misinformation and building trust ahead of the 2027 elections.
The President also called for peace within the party in Benue State. He appealed to Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to reconcile with Governor Hyacinth Alia so that APC leaders in the state can work together on security and development.
Tinubu praised Akume’s long public service career and said Benue would benefit more if all party factions unite. The clash between Akume’s political structure and Alia’s supporters has created parallel meetings, disputes over appointments and tensions within the state chapter.
Reviewing his administration’s record, Tinubu described the first phase of his tenure as a period of “difficult but necessary corrections”. He said structural reforms started since 2023 are helping to restore fiscal credibility, ease fuel supply problems and strengthen the naira, supported by Central Bank interventions.
He explained that the proposed N58.18 trillion 2026 budget will shift the focus from stabilisation to faster growth. The plan includes record capital spending, the largest security allocation in Nigeria’s history and tax reforms designed to protect vulnerable citizens while widening the revenue base.
Tinubu stressed that policy success depends on how well the public understands these reforms. He charged the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and other party platforms to explain government decisions clearly using verified facts, rather than leaving the space to social media narratives.
SGF Akume urged governors to set up Results Delivery and Coordination Units in their states, mirroring federal structures. He said governance must move from announcements to measurable outcomes backed by data.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, restated the National Assembly’s support for the government’s reform agenda. Abbas described subsidy changes, tax measures and other fiscal policies as building blocks for long term prosperity.
He warned, however, that gaps between government intentions and public perception can slow progress if not managed with transparency. He proposed quarterly meetings between federal lawmakers and APC state assemblies to align laws and oversight, and suggested a Renewed Hope Public Dashboard to publish simple data on revenues, projects and social programmes.
Abbas also backed structured involvement of youths and women in monitoring how reforms are implemented. He said genuine participation would deepen citizens’ sense of ownership and strengthen support for difficult but necessary policies.
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