2027: Tinubu accepts APC’s mandate to run for second term, insists reforms irreversible

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared that Nigeria’s reforms are now irreversible as he accepted the 2027 presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress, insisting the country must not “go backwards” after years of painful economic restructuring.

In a defiant and campaign-style acceptance speech in Abuja on Sunday, Tinubu asked Nigerians to renew his mandate for another four years, promising to deepen reforms, expand infrastructure, tackle insecurity, and consolidate what he described as the economic gains of his administration.

The President acknowledged widespread hardship and rising living costs but maintained that his government had stabilised the economy through fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate reforms, improved revenue generation, and fiscal restructuring.

“We moved away from wasteful fuel subsidies, unstable exchange rates, and weak infrastructure. Today, we are witnessing a turnaround,” he declared.

Tinubu also used the speech to defend his administration’s record in education, power, and infrastructure, citing the student loan scheme, electricity metering rollout, highway construction projects, and renewed investment in the oil and gas sector.

On security, the President admitted that challenges persist across parts of the country but vowed that his administration would intensify efforts to restore peace and stability nationwide. He also threw his weight behind the creation of state police, describing it as a national emergency.

In what appeared to be a direct swipe at the opposition ahead of the 2027 race, Tinubu warned Nigerians against entrusting power to “politicians with no clear alternative vision.”

“This next election must not merely be a contest of parties or ideas, but a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s democratic maturity,” he said.

The speech marks Tinubu’s formal entry into the 2027 presidential contest and sets the tone for what is expected to be a fierce battle over the direction of Nigeria’s economy and democracy.