Senate President Godswill Akpabio has defended the economic record of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, arguing that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will have substantial achievements to present to Nigerians as the country moves towards the 2027 general elections.
Akpabio made the remarks in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, while receiving members of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), led by Senator Dandutse Mohammed.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by Akpabio’s Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, the Senate President said the Tinubu administration assumed office in 2023 at a time when Nigeria was facing serious economic pressures.
Akpabio specifically pointed to the financial difficulties confronting state governments, claiming that 27 states were unable to meet salary and pension obligations when Tinubu took office.
He argued that the situation has since improved, attributing the change to the Federal Government’s economic policies and what he described as new approaches to managing the country’s finances.
The claim is consistent with a similar argument recently made publicly by President Tinubu. In August 2026, the President also said 27 state governments had been unable to pay workers before he assumed office, using the situation to defend the economic reforms implemented by his administration.
Akpabio said the economic record of the administration would become an important issue during the 2027 campaign, expressing confidence that APC would be able to point to policies and programmes it considers significant achievements.
“The current President has done a lot for Nigerians,” Akpabio said, describing the economic situation inherited by Tinubu as being in “shambles.”
He argued that the government’s performance should be assessed against the conditions it encountered at the beginning of its tenure rather than in isolation.
The Senate President also challenged opposition politicians to present their own records in public office as the political contest ahead of 2027 intensifies. He maintained that the government could point to developments in several sectors, including the economy, agriculture, security, education and fiscal policy.
Akpabio further suggested that opposition figures were aware of some of the administration’s achievements but would be unlikely to acknowledge them because of their political positions.
His comments place economic performance and the government’s reform agenda firmly among the issues likely to shape the political debate ahead of the next presidential election.
Economic reforms become central to 2027 debate
Since taking office in May 2023, the Tinubu administration has pursued major economic changes, most notably the removal of the petrol subsidy and reforms affecting foreign exchange and public finances.
The policies have generated significant debate because they have been accompanied by higher living costs and adjustments across the economy. At the same time, the administration has argued that the reforms were necessary to reduce longstanding fiscal pressures and give governments greater room to fund public services.
The Federal Government has repeatedly linked increased allocations to state governments with the reforms introduced under Tinubu.
In February 2026, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris similarly argued that reforms introduced by the administration had helped prevent economic collapse in 27 states. He said states were subsequently receiving significantly higher revenues and had greater capacity to meet obligations and undertake development projects.
The issue is therefore likely to remain politically contentious. Supporters of the administration point to increased government revenues, infrastructure spending and reforms, while critics continue to focus on inflation, household pressures and the wider social consequences of the policy changes.
Against that background, Akpabio’s comments represent not only a defence of the administration’s record but also an early indication of the message the ruling party may take to voters during the 2027 election cycle.
Senate’s role in Tinubu administration
Beyond the economy, Akpabio used the meeting to defend the record of the 10th National Assembly.
He said the Senate had made significant legislative contributions under his leadership and would continue working with the executive branch on policies intended to improve conditions for Nigerians.
Akpabio also criticised what he described as excessive reliance on social media narratives, urging lawmakers and citizens to assess the work of government institutions beyond online commentary.
He pointed to the Senate committee’s decision to continue working during the National Assembly’s annual recess as an example of lawmakers remaining engaged with their constitutional responsibilities.
The Senate President said members of the legislature should continue supporting initiatives that could produce tangible benefits for Nigerians.
His remarks came as the Senate continues to place education and human-capital development among the areas receiving legislative attention.
Education funding takes centre stage
The courtesy visit by the Senate committee also focused on the role of TETFund and NELFUND in the country’s education sector.
Committee chairman Senator Dandutse Mohammed said the delegation was in Akwa Ibom as part of its constitutional responsibilities and to pay a courtesy visit to the Senate President.
He also said the committee was undertaking sensitisation and oversight activities relating to projects and infrastructure funded through TETFund in the state.
Mohammed highlighted the importance of education financing and student support programmes, particularly through TETFund and NELFUND.
TETFund has long played a major role in supporting infrastructure, academic development and other interventions in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, while NELFUND was established to provide education financing to eligible Nigerian students.
The committee chairman described education as fundamental to national development and thanked Akpabio for his support for legislation and initiatives connected to the sector.
The discussion reflects a broader effort by the government and National Assembly to present education funding as part of the administration’s development agenda.
Akpabio appeals for continued party loyalty
The Senate President also addressed senators whose political careers in the National Assembly may not continue into the 11th Senate.
He urged such lawmakers to remain committed to the APC and the Tinubu administration, saying their loyalty and contributions to the party would be recognised.
Akpabio encouraged them to continue supporting the administration even if they would not return to the Senate after the next election.
His comments underline the growing political significance of the 2027 election, with members of the ruling party already positioning themselves around the administration’s record.
For the APC, the challenge will be to translate claims of economic recovery and government achievements into issues that resonate with voters who have experienced significant economic changes since 2023.
For the opposition, the coming campaign will provide an opportunity to challenge the government’s assessment of its performance and present alternative policies.
What the 2027 debate could focus on
Akpabio’s remarks suggest that the APC intends to make the economic reforms and government spending record central to its campaign narrative.
The administration is likely to emphasise increased revenues to states, infrastructure projects, education financing, agricultural programmes, security measures and fiscal reforms.
The government’s supporters argue that these changes are part of a longer-term attempt to address structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s economy. Critics, however, are expected to ask whether the benefits of the reforms have reached ordinary households quickly enough, particularly amid continuing concerns over living costs.
The disagreement over the interpretation of the 27-state claim illustrates the broader political contest that lies ahead. While Tinubu and his allies use the figure to demonstrate the severity of the financial situation inherited in 2023 and the impact of subsequent reforms, voters will ultimately judge the government’s record based on their own experiences and the alternatives offered by competing political parties.
Akpabio’s latest comments therefore go beyond a defence of Tinubu’s economic policies. They signal the beginning of a wider political argument over what the APC government inherited, what it has changed and whether those changes justify another mandate.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the ruling party will increasingly be required to move from broad claims of achievement to measurable results, while opposition parties will face pressure to provide credible alternatives.
For Nigerian voters, the central question will be whether the government’s policies have produced meaningful and sustainable improvements in their daily lives.
DGR News will continue to track the economic, political and policy debates shaping Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections.
Akpabio Says Tinubu Inherited Troubled Economy, Highlights APC Record Ahead of 2027
