Mark Aba, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) has projected that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will secure at least 80 per cent of the votes cast in Rivers State in the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
The Director-General of the APC-PCC, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, made the projection on Saturday during the party’s presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Yari said the party was targeting no fewer than 2.3 million votes for Tinubu, based on the number of registered voters and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected in the state.
According to figures attributed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Rivers State has 3,736,434 registered voters, making it the fifth state with the highest number of registered voters in the country.
He disclosed that about 2.8 million PVCs had been collected in the state, expressing confidence that the APC could achieve its electoral target through sustained mobilisation.
The former Zamfara State governor attributed his optimism partly to the mobilisation efforts of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who is coordinating the APC presidential campaign in Rivers State and Abuja.
He also commended the Wike-led Rainbow Coalition for its support for Tinubu’s re-election bid and appreciated the people of Rivers State for their contributions to the campaign.
Yari said the party was encouraged by the level of mobilisation witnessed in the state, insisting that its target of securing 80 per cent of the votes was achievable.
“Out of over three million registered voters and about 2.8 million PVCs collected, we are looking for nothing less than 2.3 million votes.
“Mr President, we thank the Rivers people. We thank the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and everyone who has contributed to this mobilisation.
“We are happy with what we have seen. This is one of the states where we are expecting nothing less than 80 per cent by God’s grace,” he said.
Yari also defended Tinubu’s record in public office, arguing that the President’s experience as governor of Lagos State distinguished him from some of his political opponents.
He cited the growth in Lagos State’s internally generated revenue (IGR), which he said rose from about N600 million during Tinubu’s administration to more than N100 billion.
According to him, the growth demonstrated the institutional and financial foundations established by Tinubu during his tenure as governor.
He urged the President to replicate similar economic foundations at the national level, expressing confidence that the policies would create lasting benefits for future generations.
“President Tinubu is the one who put the IGR of Lagos State at N600 million. He put mechanisms and foundations in place. Today, I got information from the Governor’s Office that the internally generated revenue is over N100 billion.
“Mr President, we are begging you, the plan you used to take up the N600 million that is now N100 billion in under 25 years, we are sure you are going to lay the same foundation for Nigeria,” he stated.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, said Tinubu deserved another term to consolidate the reforms and development initiatives of his administration.
Yilwatda described the Tinubu-Shettima ticket as a formidable combination of political experience, courage, capacity and leadership, arguing that the administration had taken difficult decisions to address longstanding structural challenges in the Nigerian economy.
He identified the removal of fuel subsidy, unification of the foreign exchange market and other economic policy adjustments as key measures introduced to strengthen public finances and establish a sustainable foundation for economic growth.
While acknowledging that the reforms had imposed economic adjustments on households and businesses, the APC chairman said the Federal Government was implementing stabilisation measures, social intervention programmes and infrastructure investments to cushion their effects.
He also highlighted investments in strategic road infrastructure, including proposed and ongoing superhighway projects, as part of the administration’s efforts to stimulate economic growth and promote national integration.
Yilwatda urged Nigerians to remain committed to the long-term objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda, maintaining that continuity would enable the administration to consolidate its policies and deliver greater economic benefits.
He further praised political leaders and members of the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State for supporting Tinubu’s re-election bid, describing their cooperation as evidence of political collaboration beyond traditional party affiliations.
“Come 2027, we want to continue with this reformer and performer as our President. That is why the coalition and the people of Rivers State, irrespective of political party, have decided to work together for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
Yilwatda also expressed confidence in the mobilisation efforts of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Wike and other political stakeholders, saying the party was optimistic about securing substantial electoral support from the state.
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