The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday predicted that opposition parties would allege electoral manipulation if President Bola Tinubu wins re-election in 2027.

Akpabio made the remark while receiving members of the City Boy Movement, a pro-Tinubu support group, during a courtesy visit to his office at the National Assembly, Abuja.

The Senate President, who is also the Grand Patron of the movement, urged the group to intensify grassroots mobilisation for Tinubu’s re-election, expressing confidence that the President would secure a second term despite expected criticism from the opposition.

He said the movement would ensure Tinubu had agents in every polling unit and help prevent a repeat of votes allegedly lost during the 2023 election.

“The City Boy Movement is like a wind blowing across the nation. You may not see it but you can feel it. Every political party in Nigeria is already feeling the impact of the City Boy Movement.

“Never again shall we have a situation in any polling unit in Nigeria where Mr President will not have an agent because we have the City Boy Movement. In the last election, if your Movement had existed, many of our votes that were not counted in many polling units would have been counted.

“I want you to have it in mind that you have come up at the right time and l do know that you are all poised to ensure maximum victory come 2027. But when the victory of President Bola Tinubu will be announced, you will hear people saying it is rigged. That they did this or that. Ignore all those things and remain focused,” he said.

Akpabio also urged members of the movement and Nigerian youths to remain focused, avoid cultism, drug abuse and other social vices, saying they had an opportunity to shape the country’s future through active political participation and support for Tinubu’s administration.

He said, “It is not a tragedy when a nonentity whimpers through life and ends up a failure in the grave. But it is a tragedy when a potentially achieving young man or woman, out of a flaw in his or her character, becomes a failure and ends up in the grave.

“Where you are now, you are privileged to work for the future of your country. You are privileged to tow the right path thactivitieat has nothing to do with cultism or terrorist.

“You are privileged to chart the path of the next administration. You are also privileged to belong to the incoming government of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in 2027. It will be a tragedy for any of you to derail. We assure you that here we are 100 percent with you.”

Earlier, the Director-General of the City Boy Movement, Francis Shoga, said the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration between the National Assembly and the group ahead of its nationwide mobilisation activities.

He said, “We seek your continued guidance and support as we expand our programmes across the country, deepen civic engagement among the young Nigerians and contribute meaningfully to national development.” (The PUNCH)

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