President Bola Tinubu said on Thursday, May 22, that he expects more politicians to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections, declaring that defections are part of the political game.
Speaking during the APC Renewed Hope Agenda Summit at the State House Conference Centre, the President expressed confidence in what his government and party had achieved so far.
The summit was convened to assess Tinubu’s two-year record, focusing on progress in health, infrastructure, security, and other key sectors.
“You don’t expect people to remain in a sinking ship without a life jacket. I am happy with what we have accomplished and expecting more people to come; that’s the game,” Tinubu said.
The summit was attended by party leaders, members of the National Working Committee, the leadership of the National Assembly, and governors under the Progressive Governors’ Forum.
Tinubu was endorsed for a second term by all present, including Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, who praised his leadership.
The President, according to a statement by his spokesman Bayo Onanuga, said Nigeria’s constitution grants citizens the right to align with any political group of their choice.
“I thank every one of you. I am thoroughly inspired. We are just halfway through the journey that started 24 months ago,” he said.
He praised members of the Federal Executive Council for pursuing tough but necessary reforms and commended the National Assembly for their support.
“Together, we pledged to confront Nigeria’s challenges head-on by rebuilding the trust, fostering prosperity and restoring our nation’s economic quest.
“Today, I am proud to affirm that our economic reforms are working. Nothing good comes easy in life. All of you have been through life, and sometimes, only hard decisions can make things easy in the future,” Tinubu said.
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He continued, “We couldn’t just afford to spend the future of our children and unborn babies. Through our Renewed Hope Agenda, our administration pledged to tackle economic instability, improve security nationwide, reduce corruption, reform governance, and lift our people out of poverty.
“How fast could you have rebuilt this country? If you allow the arbitrage in the exchange rate to continue, that is the grandfather of corruption. You could see EFCC recover over seven hundred and fifty-something houses from one person.”
While acknowledging the painful nature of the reforms, Tinubu insisted they were vital.
“Yes, we encountered challenges when we assumed office in May 2023, but we have made progress by implementing difficult, long overdue but necessary economic reforms.
“We have eliminated the arbitrage-driven multiple foreign exchanges, and our far-reaching tax reforms are coming.
“Because of the reforms, our country now attracts foreign direct investments that will ultimately create jobs and produce much-needed goods and services that will significantly improve the standard of living of our people,” he added.
Governor Uzodimma led the endorsement for Tinubu’s re-election, with a motion that was seconded by Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas also declared their support for a second term, praising Tinubu’s leadership style.
APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje echoed their endorsement, describing Tinubu as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
“I urge all members to reject internal sabotage. Engage communities, listen to citizens, and build a political structure beyond elections,” Ganduje said.
He added, “Let us rally behind President Bola Tinubu, support our policies, and deliver the Renewed Hope Nigerians rightfully deserve.”