APM-IDEA challenges APC over Tinubu’s second term

…Group demands answers on Ibom Deep Seaport, Coastal Highway, urges voters to consider Makinde, APM candidates

The Allied People’s Movement Initiative for Democracy, Ethics and Accountability (APM-IDEA) has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State to justify President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 by presenting verifiable achievements and concrete development commitments to the state.

The organisation questioned what the APC would campaign on in Akwa Ibom, citing the long-awaited Ibom Deep Seaport, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, unemployment, insecurity, hunger and the rising cost of living as critical issues demanding answers from the President’s administration.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Dr Tom FredFish, on Wednesday, APM-IDEA said Akwa Ibom residents deserved evidence of tangible benefits from the state’s political alignment with the Federal Government rather than recurring promises.

Governor Umo Eno’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC was presented as a strategic move to strengthen the state’s relationship with the Federal Government and accelerate development, particularly the long-awaited Ibom Deep Seaport project.

However, APM-IDEA said residents were still waiting for a clear, publicly demonstrated federal commitment to translating the project into reality.

The group contrasted the situation with developments in Ogun State, where President Tinubu reportedly witnessed agreements advancing the proposed Gateway Deep Seaport on September 24, 2026, with projected investments exceeding $7bn and the potential to create tens of thousands of jobs.

While welcoming investments in any part of the country, APM-IDEA questioned what it described as the disparity between the Federal Government’s promotion of Ogun State’s maritime ambitions and the absence of a comparably clear implementation commitment to the Ibom Deep Seaport.

“If securing federal support for Akwa Ibom was a major reason for Governor Eno’s movement to the centre, the people deserve to know what has been achieved, what remains outstanding and when the promised benefits will materialise,” the organisation argued.

It added that political defection should deliver development rather than merely confer political advantages on those in power.

Coastal highway raises fresh questions

APM-IDEA also demanded clarity on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, particularly its final alignment, construction timelines and specific benefits to the South-South region.

It warned that infrastructure announcements alone were insufficient to justify another presidential mandate, insisting that residents needed credible assurances that projects affecting the state would be completed rather than left as unfulfilled campaign promises.

The group cited the Calabar-Itu Highway, including the proposed spur at Ididep, as another project requiring accountability from the APC-led Federal Government.

It further questioned the level of presidential attention Akwa Ibom State had received, noting that although Governor Eno had sought federal collaboration and invited Tinubu to state functions, the President had yet to attend any of them.

According to APM-IDEA, the absence of reciprocal presidential attendance raises questions about the extent of the state’s access to and engagement with the Presidency.

Against this background, the organisation asked why Akwa Ibom residents should support another four-year term for Tinubu without convincing answers on these development concerns.

Group pitches Makinde, APM candidates

Beyond challenging the APC, APM-IDEA urged Nigerians to consider Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as an alternative for national leadership from 2027.

It cited Makinde’s administrative experience and development-oriented approach as reasons voters should examine his vision for the country.

The organisation said Nigeria needed leadership that prioritised national unity, productive investment, job creation, institutional accountability and inclusive development.

It argued that economic growth must translate into improved living standards, quality education, functional healthcare, business opportunities and a secure environment for citizens and investors.

For Akwa Ibom, the group said, federal commitment to the Ibom Deep Seaport and its associated industrial potential was particularly important because the project could stimulate employment, expand commerce and transform the regional economy if backed by concrete action.

APM-IDEA also urged voters to consider candidates of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) across the state in the 2027 elections.

It encouraged the electorate to look beyond established political arrangements and assess candidates based on their integrity, track records, manifestoes, accessibility and capacity to provide effective representation.

The organisation expressed concern about political arrangements in which candidates were repeatedly rotated or imposed on the electorate for what it described as political convenience rather than in response to the genuine aspirations of the people.

It maintained that every constituency deserved competitive electoral choices and representatives whose priorities reflected the needs of their constituents.

‘Akwa Ibom owes no party allegiance’

APM-IDEA insisted that Akwa Ibom residents were not politically indebted to any party and that Governor Eno’s defection could not automatically determine the electoral choices of millions of citizens.

It said voters retained the right to assess candidates independently and demand accountability at every level of government.

The organisation therefore challenged the APC to provide a verifiable account of the Tinubu administration’s achievements in Akwa Ibom State, particularly in relation to the Ibom Deep Seaport, the Coastal Highway, job creation and economic relief.

It said the party must explain why residents should renew the President’s mandate when expectations surrounding these critical development issues remained unresolved.

As the 2027 elections approach, APM-IDEA urged voters to scrutinise candidates’ records, examine their programmes and weigh the available alternatives before deciding who best represents their interests.

“The APC must answer these questions before asking for Akwa Ibom people’s votes,” the organisation maintained, adding that the electorate, rather than political convenience, must determine who represents them.

Dr Tom FredFish, Chairman – APM Initiative for Democracy, Ethics and Accountability (APM-IDEA)