President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that governance will not take a backseat to electioneering ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Tinubu gave the assurance on Wednesday while inaugurating the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) at the State House, Abuja.

He said the responsibilities of his office would continue uninterrupted, stressing that the country required sustained attention to its pressing national priorities.

“The responsibility of this office does not pause,” the president declared.

Tinubu said he would continue engaging Nigerians on his administration’s achievements and development agenda but would leave the Council to coordinate campaign activities across states and local government areas.

“I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians, even as you lead the campaign in the states and local government areas.

“So you will excuse me from going everywhere with you. We have bills to pay,” he said.

The President said the government had financial obligations to meet and needed to attract investors to support the country’s economic growth and future development.

“The job must go on. We have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait. We want those investors to come in, be here to stay, to invest for the future of our children,” Tinubu said.

He declared the APC ready for the 2027 elections, describing the inauguration as a renewal of the party’s commitment to Nigerians and its responsibilities as the governing party.

“The APC is ready. We have not gathered merely to inaugurate a council.

“We have gathered to renew a covenant, a covenant with Nigerian people and the historic responsibility they have entrusted to us as Nigeria’s governing party.

“We promise we will not let them down,” he said.

Tinubu urged members of the Council to take the party’s vision, record of achievements and development agenda to Nigerians across the country, including communities and wards.

“Let the word go out from this hall to every corner of our nation. The APC is ready.

He charged party members to remain steadfast in nation-building, citing his record as Lagos governor, when he spearheaded measures to tackle the looming threat of Atlantic Ocean flooding.

“There is no limit to daring. You must dare, you must be determined,” he said.

The President also cautioned APC governors, lawmakers and other party leaders against taking previous electoral efforts for granted, urging them to demonstrate commitment ahead of the 2027 elections.

The event was witnessed by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abass, governors, top politicians, and APC youth and women groups, among other dignitaries.

The APC Presidential Campaign Council, led by Director-General Sen. Abdulaziz Yari, is set to kick off its presidential campaign in Kaduna on October 24. (NAN) 

By Tambaya Julius, Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said he will not allow political campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections to distract him from governing the country, stressing that national responsibilities must remain a priority.

Tinubu stated this on Wednesday while inaugurating the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.

He said the responsibility of running the country would continue regardless of campaign activities, adding that he would focus on governance while party leaders and campaign officials coordinate the APC’s activities across the country.
“The responsibility of this office does not pause,” the President declared.

Tinubu said he would still make time to address Nigerians on his administration’s achievements and plans, but would not be able to attend every campaign engagement across the states and local government areas.

“However, I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians, even as you lead the campaign in the states and local government areas. So you will excuse me from going everywhere with you. We have bills to pay,” he said.

The President also declared the APC ready for the 2027 elections, describing the inauguration of the Campaign Council as an opportunity for the party to renew its commitment to Nigerians.
He said the party’s responsibility went beyond setting up a campaign structure, noting that it must remain mindful of the trust Nigerians had placed in it as the ruling party.

“The APC is ready. We have not gathered merely to inaugurate a council. We have gathered to renew a covenant, a covenant with Nigerian people and the historic responsibility they have entrusted to us as Nigeria’s governing party. We promise we will not let them down,” Tinubu said.

He charged members of the council to take the party’s message, its record and development agenda to Nigerians across the country.
The President urged them to ensure that the APC’s campaign reaches communities and wards nationwide as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.

From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has urged the South East Development Commission (SEDC) to prioritise the development of a regional gas pipeline, railway network and initiatives to accelerate industrialisation in the region.

Mbah said the proposed infrastructure would boost economic activities, improve connectivity among the five SouthEast states and strengthen regional integration.

He also urged the National Assembly to ensure adequate funding for the Commission, describing it as a strategic platform for addressing the region’s development needs.

The governor made the calls on Monday when he received the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission led by its Chairman, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

The delegation, which paid a courtesy call to the governor on the sidelines of its oversight visit to have a firsthand assessment of the projects and programmes of the SEDC, was also accompanied by the management of the Commission, led by its Managing Director, Mark Okoye.

The governor identified a high-pressure gas pipeline connecting major cities across the South East as a critical intervention that could provide industries with reliable access to gas and stimulate large-scale industrial development.

He argued that the region should benefit from gas resources produced within the wider southern part of the country, noting that pipeline infrastructure already transports gas to other parts of Nigeria.

Mbah also proposed an inter-state railway network linking major cities across the five South East states to facilitate trade, improve transportation and reduce pressure on the region’s road network, urging the states to work together on a common design for the proposed railway system, with the SEDC providing a platform for coordination and regional collaboration.

“We are hoping that, given the coming into effect of the SEDC, we will be able to use it as a platform to bring all the other states together to have a common design on the South East railway line,” he said.

The governor further highlighted the commission’s role in supporting agriculture and technology-driven enterprises, citing the flag-off of a 200-hectare integrated Agro Development Programme at Nomeh Unateze, Enugu State, as one of its interventions in the agricultural sector.

He assured the commission of the state government’s support in providing an enabling environment for the project.

Mbah also stressed the need for the SEDC to provide funding opportunities for young entrepreneurs whose businesses had attained the minimum viable product stage, enabling them to expand their operations and contribute to economic growth.

He called on the senators to support the Commission in securing the funding required to undertake the project, describing it as a potential catalyst for an industrial revolution in the region.

Earlier, Kalu commended the Mbah administration for its interventions in infrastructure, education, healthcare, water supply and transportation.

He cited the development of Smart Green Schools, more than 7,000 classrooms, Type II primary healthcare centres across the state’s 260 electoral wards, and the state’s multimodal transportation system.

The senator also acknowledged Mbah’s efforts to strengthen engagement between the South East and the Federal Government, expressing appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for facilitating the establishment of the SEDC.

Kalu disclosed that the issue surrounding the location of the Commission’s headquarters had been resolved, following the Enugu State Government’s provision of temporary office accommodation and a site for its permanent headquarters.

“We wanted to make sure that the commission locates to Enugu State as soon as possible, and this has been a subject of disagreement. But today, I can assure you that the issue is settled,” he said.

He thanked the governor for the support provided to facilitate the commission’s take-off and assured him of the committee’s continued support for its activities.