President Bola Tinubu has called on opposition members and party supporters to remember that “elections are not conducted on social media platforms. Nigerians conduct elections.”
Speaking at the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Renewed Hope Ambassadors Strategic Summit at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu also urged Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, to reconcile with Governor Hyacinth Alia to strengthen unity in Benue State.
The President highlighted APC’s commitment to economic reforms, stating that the administration is moving from economic stabilisation to full-scale growth acceleration in 2026. He praised Akume’s long service in public office and called for collaboration to build Benue together, amid tensions between Akume’s established machinery and Alia’s reformist base.
Tinubu described the first phase of his administration as “difficult but necessary corrections,” noting progress in stabilising fiscal indicators, easing inflationary pressures, resolving fuel supply disruptions, and strengthening the naira, supported by Central Bank interventions.
He disclosed that the proposed N58.18 trillion 2026 budget would focus on accelerating growth, with record capital expenditure, the largest security allocation in Nigeria’s history, and tax reforms to protect vulnerable citizens while expanding the revenue base.
The President emphasised that policy success depends on public understanding, urging party members to communicate reform messages across wards, markets, and campuses, countering misinformation with verifiable facts.
SGF Akume encouraged governors to institutionalise Central Results Delivery and Coordination Units at the state level, stressing the need for measurable governance outcomes and stronger federal-state alignment.
Representatives of the National Assembly, including Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, affirmed legislative backing for the administration’s reform initiatives. Abbas proposed a quarterly reform interface between federal and APC-led state legislatures, along with a “Renewed Hope Public Dashboard” to share simplified data on revenues, projects, and social interventions, while also advocating structured youth and women participation to enhance ownership and monitoring of reforms.
